Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections Among Drug Addicts in Bangladesh (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Drug users, especially those injecting intravenously, are an increased risk of infection with blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) (1), hepatitis C virus HCV) (2), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 3). Viral transmission is primarily parenteral through sharing of contaminated injection equipment (4-6). Studies have shown that the prevalence rates of these blood-borne viral infections are higher among individuals with prolonged drug use (2,4,7,8). Among drug-using populations, sharing of contaminated injection equipment and abnormal sexual behaviour are common, thus facilitating viral transmission by either parenteral or sexual route. Although sexual transmission of HBV has been demonstrated in non-injectable drug users (IDUs) (9-12), several studies failed to show any association between high-risk sexual behaviour and HBV and HCV infections (2,7,8,13). In HIV infection, the seroprevalence is associated with high-risk sexual behaviour (1,8).