title: An urgent need to scale-up injecting drug harm reduction services in Tanzania: prevalence of blood-borne viruses among drug users in Temeke District, Dar-es-Salaam, 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injecting drug use (IDU) is a growing concern in Tanzania compounded by reports of high-risk injecting and sexual risk behaviours among people who inject drugs (PWID). These behaviours have implications for transmission of blood-borne viruses, including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 267 PWID (87% male) from Temeke District, Dar-es-Salaam through snowball and targeted sampling. A behavioural survey was administered alongside repeated rapid HIV and HCV antibody testing. HIV and HCV prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among PWID, 34.8% (95%CI 29.1-40.9) tested HIV positive (29.9% of males and 66.7% of females); 27.7% (95%CI 22.0-34.0) tested HCV antibody positive. Almost all (97%) participants were aware of HIV and 34% of HCV. 45% of male and 64% of female PWID reported a previous HIV test; only five (2%) PWID reported a previous HCV test. Of HIV and HCV positive tests, 73% and 99%, respectively, represented newly diagnosed infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of HIV and HCV were detected in this population of PWID. Rapid scale-up of targeted primary prevention and testing and treatment services for PWID in Tanzania is needed to prevent further transmission and consequent morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia. annab@burnet.edu.au
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bowring
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luhmann
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pont
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debaulieu
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derozier
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asouab
authors.forename: Abdalla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toufik
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Gemert
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dietze
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoove
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D040261:Harm Reduction; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult