Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV among male injecting drug users in Afghanistan.

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis and HIV infections are common public health concerns among injecting drug users, however, there is limited evidence on their seroprevalence in Afghanistan.

Aim: To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV among male injecting drug users at Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Methods: Using a structured questionnaire, we interviewed 397 injecting drug users at Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan, between November and December 2022. We collected and tested 3-5 ml blood samples from the participants. We analysed the data using Epi Info version 7.2.1 and used binary logistic regression and χ² tests to identify potential predictors of blood-borne hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections.

Results: Of the total participants, seroprevalence of hepatitis B was 3.79%, hepatitis C 2.77% and HIV 0.50%. Syringe reuse (10%), sharing of syringes (18.6%) and history of blood transfusion (20.2%) were common, but there was no statistically significant association between these predictors and infection (P < 0.05). However, using shared blades was positively associated with hepatitis B infection.

Conclusion: Although hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV seroprevalence were lower in our study than in previous studies, and no significant association was found between the risk factors and these diseases, there is a need to expand harm reduction services beyond needle-syringe programmes to include non-syringe components. The association between shared blade use and hepatitis B infection indicates that harm reduction efforts should also incorporate safe shaving practices.