Continued high prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among injecting and noninjecting drug users in Italy

Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2010;46(1):59-65. doi: 10.4415/ANN_10_01_08.

Abstract

We estimated the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV infections among injecting and noninjecting drug users treated within public drug-treatment centres in Italy to determine the correlates of infection. In the sample of 1330 drug users, the prevalence of HIV was 14.4% among drug injectors and 1.6% among non-injectors; the prevalence of HBV was 70.4% among injecting drug users and 22.8% among non-injectors and of HCV was 83.2% among injecting drug users and 22.0% among non-injectors. Old age, unemployment, and intravenous drug use were significantly correlated with each of the infections, as well as a longer history of injecting drug use. The results indicate that these infections continue to circulate among drug users, highlighting the need for monitoring of this group in Italy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / complications*
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications*