| Title | High prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and high-risk behaviour among injecting drug users in Tallinn, Estonia. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2007 |
| Authors | Uusküla, Anneli, Louise Anne McNutt, Jack Dehovitz, Krista Fischer, and Robert Heimer |
| Journal | International journal of STD & AIDS |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 41-6 |
| Date Published | 2007 Jan |
| ISSN | 0956-4624 |
| Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Disease Transmission, Infectious, Estonia, Female, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Male, Needle-Exchange Programs, Prevalence, Questionnaires, Risk-Taking, Substance Abuse, Intravenous |
| Abstract | 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. |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x |
| Alternate Journal | Int J STD AIDS |
