High Prevalence of HIV, HIV/Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection, and Risk Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users in Chennai, India: A Cause for Concern

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfections and current risk behaviors among HIV-positive and -negative injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, India. Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of 912 IDUs recruited between March 2004 and April 2005. Specimens were tested for HIV, HBV, and HCV. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance estimates. The prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen, and anti-HCV were 29.8%, 11.1%, and 62.1%, respectively. Among HIV-infected IDUs, prevalence of coinfection with anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen/anti-HCV were 86% and 9.2%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, injecting at a dealer's place (PR: 1.57) and duration of injection drug use ≥11 years (PR: 3.02) were positively associated with prevalent HIV infection. Contrastingly, alcohol consumption ≥1 per week (PR: 0.55) was negatively associated with HIV. HIV-positive IDUs were as or more likely compared with HIV-negative IDUs to report recent high-risk injection-related behaviors. There is a high burden of HIV, HCV, and HBV among IDUs that needs to be addressed by improving access to therapies for these infections; furthermore, preventive measures are urgently needed to prevent further spread of HIV, HBV, and HCV in this vulnerable population.