title: Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B, C, D Infections and Their Associated Risk Factors among Prisoners in Southern Khorasan Province, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prison inmates are among the high risk population for dangerous infections such HIV, HBV, HCV and other contagious diseases. In spit of many data about the prevalence and risk factors for blood born diseases among prisoners in the world, such data are spares from Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for HIV, HBV, HCV and HDV infections among a large sample of prison inmates in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study in 2009-2010, 881 inmates in three prisons of Southern Khorasan Province in Iran were selected based on a systematic, stratified random sampling method. Sera were analyzed for HBV, HDV, HCV and HIV infections by appropriate commercial ELISA kits. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data and information about risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 881 prisoners (mean age: 34.7±11.4 years, range: 11-84 years, M/F ratio:4.5/1) were participated in this study. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection was 6.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Among the HBsAg positive subjects, 6.6% (4/61) and 9.8% (6/61) had HDV and HCV super-infection, respectively. Only one case (0.1%) had HIV infection that was co-infection with HCV. Drug abuse and history of traditional phlebotomy were associated risk factors for HBV infection (P<0.05) and history of drug injection was associated with HCV infection (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study show fairly higher prevalence of blood borne infections among prisoners and indicate drug abuse and phlebotomy as the associated risk factor. Implementation of appropriate screening tests and preventive programs is suggested in prisons.
authors.affiliation: 1. Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.affiliation: 2. Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: 3. Hepatitis Research Center, Department Of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hasan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Namaee
authors.affiliation: 4. Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fereidouni
keywords: HIV; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Injecting drug users; Prison