RESUMEN
Drug injection is a very important risk factor for viral hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection. The present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis [B and C] and HIV infection among intravenous drug users [IDUs] and to identify the related risk factors for these infections in this group. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2004 in Shahrekord, Iran. The study population consisted of 133 IDUs in a voluntary drug treatment center. Demographic information and HBV, HCV, HIV-related risk behaviors were obtained through an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. IDUs serum samples were screened for HBV. HCV and HIV infection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. All HIV positive samples were confirmed by western blotting. Of the 133 IDUs, 1[0.75%] was HIV+, 15 [11.2%] were HCV+ and 8 [6.2%] were HbsAg+. The prevalence of HCV and HBV infected IDUs was 33.4 and 31.13, respectively. The prevalence of HCV infection was more than the prevalence of both HBV and HIV infection. Using Chi-Square test it was found that there was a significant correlation between using shared syringe and infection with HIV, HCV and HBV [p<0.05]. Based on the results of this study, IDUs have elevated prevalence of HCV, HBV and HIV infection in Shahrekord and the main risk factor associated with these infections is drug injection