Author： Wang Liang-Jen Lin Shih-Ku Chiang Shu-Chuan Su Lien-Wen Chen Chih-Ken
Publisher： Informa Healthcare
ISSN： 1082-6084
Source： Substance Use & Misuse, Vol.48, Iss.1-2, 2013-01, pp. : 89-98
Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.
Abstract
A total of 125 heroin users were recruited from a detention center and two psychiatric hospitals in northern Taiwan during 2006 in order to investigate the prevalence and correlates of blood-borne infections among heroin users. The seroprevalence rates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), HBV, HDV, and syphilis were 15.2%, 74.4%, 15.2%, 6.4%, and 8%, respectively. Injection risk behaviors were associated with HIV, HCV, and syphilis infections, but not with HBV infections. Meanwhile, HCV and HBV infections were correlated with the duration of heroin use and age of the subjects, respectively. The results of this study suggest that a comprehensive public health program is needed to prevent transmission of these blood-borne infections. The study's limitations are noted.
Related content
Access to resources
Recommend
By Ko Nai-Ying Hsu Su-Ting Chen Cheng-Hui Lee Hsin-Chun Ko Wen-Chien
Substance Use & Misuse, Vol. 46, Iss. 5, 2011-03 ,pp. :