%0 Journal Article %J International journal of STD & AIDS %D 2007 %T High prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and high-risk behaviour among injecting drug users in Tallinn, Estonia. %A Uusküla, Anneli %A McNutt, Louise Anne %A Dehovitz, Jack %A Fischer, Krista %A Heimer, Robert %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Disease Transmission, Infectious %K Estonia %K Female %K Hepacivirus %K Hepatitis B %K Hepatitis B virus %K Hepatitis C %K HIV %K HIV Infections %K Humans %K Male %K Needle-Exchange Programs %K Prevalence %K Questionnaires %K Risk-Taking %K Substance Abuse, Intravenous %N 1 %P 41-6 %R 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x %V 18 %X 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. %8 2007 Jan