Population-based prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia in male injection drug users in Lagos, Nigeria
Document Type
Article (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
2013
Abstract
There is little research on injecting drug use in Nigeria. We investigated the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among male injection drug users (IDUs) in Lagos. Male IDUs (N 328) were recruited through respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed an interview about their sexual and injecting risk behaviours and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBV), hepatitis C antibody (HCV), HIV and syphilis, as well as genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections. Three-quarters of IDUs (74%) reported injecting drugs in the past one month although most did not share needles (92%) and the majority obtained sterile needles from pharmacists (87%). Estimated HBV, HCV, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalences were 7.8%, 7.7%, 0.9%, 1.9%, 0.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The burden of HIV is presently low among IDUs in Lagos. Changes in accessibility to sterile needles at pharmacists would likely have a deleterious effect on IDUs’ health. HBV vaccination and HCV prevention programmes for IDUs are urgently needed.
Recommended Citation
Tun, Waimar, Lung Vu, Sylvia Adebajo, Lolade Abiodun, Meredith Sheehy, Andrew Karlyn, Jean Njab, Babatunde A. O. Ahonsi, B. Kawu Issa, and Omokhudu Idogho. 2013. "Population-based prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia in male injection drug users in Lagos, Nigeria," International Journal of STD and AIDS 24(8): 619–625.
DOI
10.1177/0956462413477553
Language
English