FREQUENCY OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS HEPATITIS B & C VIRUS AMONG DRUG ADDICTS PRESENTED TO DOST FOUNDATION, PESHAWAR

Abstract

Objectives: To know the frequency of HIV, hepatitis B& hepatitis C Virus infections among drug addicts presented to Dost Foundation, Peshawar.

Study design: Cross-sectional (descriptive) study.

Study Setting and duration: Samples collection was done from Dost Foundation non-government nonprofit organization in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.

Methodology: By ICT Rapid Strip Test 291 drug addicts were examined for the Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against hepatitis C virus (Anti HCV) and antibodies against HIV (Anti-HIV antibodies) in the laboratory Dost Foundation, Peshawar.

Results: The sample size for this study was 291 in which some patients infected to HIV, HBS, and HCV at one time among which 15(5.2%) was female and 276(94.8%) was male. (Table no3.3) There was not any female included between the ages 13-20.5 was between the groups of 21-30, only 4 female was in age between the groups of 31-40.5 was between the age distribution of 41-50 and 1 was between 51-62. The age-wise frequency distribution of all patients 12.4% of patients was between 13 -20 of age.31.6% was between 21-30.30% was between 31-40.16.8% was between 41-50.8% was between the groups of 51-62. The study concluded that among all 291 patients 197(67.7%) were HCV positive, 118(40.5%) were HBS positive and 64(22%) were HIV positive. Among all these patients 5.5% female and 94.4% male were HCV positive, 5.1% female and 94.9% male was HBS positive, and 9.4% female and 90.6% male was HIV positive.

Conclusion: Our results clearly show that HIV infection, hepatitis B infection & hepatitis C infection were common infections present in drug abusers particularly in those drug addicts who are using syringes for drug abuse and in areas that lack education and awareness. These infection rates are significantly high in the general population, but drug users exceed limits compared to them because of sharing injecting equipment. HIV was more prevalent in IDU`s than non-IDU`s. These situations are very disturbing, and drug users can transmit these diseases to their family’s and the general population. The law enforcement authorities must do their best to control the use of drugs but condition getting worse day by day