International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 18, Number 1 > Pp. 41-46

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Original research articles

High prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and high-risk behaviour among injecting drug users in Tallinn, Estonia

Anneli Uusküla, Louise Anne McNutt, Jack Dehovitz, Krista Fischer and Robert Heimer

Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Estonia; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Estonia; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

The HIV epidemic in Estonia is rapidly expanding, and injection drug users (IDUs) are the major risk group contributing to the expansion. A convenience sample of 159 IDUs visiting syringe-exchange programmes (SEPs) was selected to quantify the association of HIV-risk behaviours and blood-borne infections. A high prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B core antibody (HBVcore), hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (56, 85.1, 21.3, and 96.2%, respectively) was associated with high-risk injections, unsafe sexual behaviour and alcohol abuse. These findings emphasize the importance of evidence-based secondary prevention among the HIV-infected, especially given the uncertain sustainability of antiretroviral and substance abuse treatments.

Key Words: INJECTION DRUG USE • HIV • HBV • HCV • HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOUR • ESTONIA

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