Abstract
The prevalence, risk factors, and prevention opportunities of hepatitis A, B, C and HIV infection was studied in injecting drug users (IDUs) in comparison with non-injecting drug users (n-IDUs) in Uppsala County, Sweden.
Highlights
Hepatitis A and B vaccination should be considered as one component of a comprehensive programme including counselling, support and education of blood-borne infections associated with drug use
Blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis A, B and C (HAV, HBV, HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are common among illicit drug users and their sexual partners mainly because of sharing of injection equipment, having unprotected sexual behaviour with persons belonging to high-risk groups and living in unsanitary living conditions [1,2,3]
The prevention of hepatitis B and C virus infections is of major public health concern because infected individuals carry a substantial risk of chronic liver disease of 2 to 5% for HBV and of 75 to 85% for HCV [8, 9]
Summary
Blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis A, B and C (HAV, HBV, HCV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are common among illicit drug users and their sexual partners mainly because of sharing of injection equipment, having unprotected sexual behaviour with persons belonging to high-risk groups and living in unsanitary living conditions [1,2,3]. The prevention of hepatitis B and C virus infections is of major public health concern because infected individuals carry a substantial risk of chronic liver disease of 2 to 5% for HBV and of 75 to 85% for HCV [8, 9]. Legal access to needles and NEP as part of a strategy to prevent the transmission of HIV has been heavily debated. Advocates claim that these programmes create venues for contact between the IDUs and the health care system, where harm-
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