3rd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment Rio de Janeiro - July 24 - 27, 2005

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS, AND HIV INFECTION AMONG INJECTION DRUG USERS IN GEORGIA

IAS Conf HIV Pathog Treat 2005 Jul 24-27;3rd: Abstract No. MoOa0105

Gabelia N.¹, Nelson K.², del Rio C.³, Stvilia K.⁴, Chitale R.², Aladashvili M.⁴, Tsertsvadze T.^4
1Georgian Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center; Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia, ²Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America, ³Emory University School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America, ⁴Georgian Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center, Tbilisi, Georgia

INTRODUCTION: HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have recently become epidemic in many areas of the world, especially in countries of the former Soviet Union, and are commonly transmitted by injection drug use (IDU) and/or high risk sexual behavior. Very few data on this problem have been published from Georgia.

METHODS: We enrolled a cohort of 2406 adults living in 3 cities in Georgia in a study of the prevalence and risk factors associated with HIV and HCV. Among the population were 926 IDUs, who are the focus of the current analysis. After informed consent, subjects were interviewed about their drug using, sexual and other risk behavior. Blood was tested for antibodies to HIV, HCV and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to Hepatitis B core (anti-HBc). The association between drug use and several risk behaviors and HCV seroprevalence was analyzed using univariate methods and multiple logistic regressions.

RESULTS: Five (0.5%) of 926 IDUs were seropositive for HIV, 66 (7.1%) for HBsAg, 475 (51.35) for anti-HBc and 539 (58.2%) for antibodies to HCV. The majority of IDUs injected opium (62.9%) and heroin, home made opiates from poppy straw or drugs stolen from medical facilities was reported as the usual drug injected by 11.0-14.3% of participants. There was a significant positive association between frequency of injection and numbers of persons sharing drugs and equipment and these risk behaviors and HCV prevalence. Subjects who reported injecting drugs stolen from pharmacies were younger, infrequently shared drugs or equipment and had lower HCV seroprevalence. History of imprisonment was associated with increased risk for HCV infection.

CONCLUSIONS: HCV infections are common among IDUs in Georgia and are strongly associated with recognized risk behaviors, especially needle sharing and imprisonment. Nevertheless, HIV infections, though present among a small number of IDUs in Georgia have not spread significantly in this population.

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Prevention | MoOa0105 | Nino Gabelia
10.1 152 10.1 Dynamics of the HIV epidemic and measurement of incidence

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