HIV INFECTION;

PREVALENCE AMONG INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS

Abstract

Background: Human immune deficiency virus ( HIV) infection was a major health
problem all over the world. The infection had become pandemic and no country was immune.
The main burden of disease was shared by developing countries and their crippled economies
were unable to deal with it. As a result the number of HIV patients were increasing day by day.
Treatment was expensive and preventive measures were not effective. The intravenous drug
users (IDUs) were major contributors in its spread. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of
HIV infection by determining the frequency of HIV infection in intravenous drug users. Study
Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Rehabilitation center for IDU,s
in District Headquarter Hospital Faisalabad (DHQ), a Tertiary Care Hospital, Affiliated with
Punjab Medical College during Jan.2013 to Dec.2013. Subjects and Methods: All I. V. drug
users attending the rehabilitation center of D.H.Q. hospital were included in the study. All were
subjected to be screened for HIV/AIDS infection. Total 352 patients attended the center. Each
patient was given a code number to hide the identity and results of tests were kept secret.
The blood samples were collected and labeled with respected code on it. Results: Total 352
intravenous drug users were enrolled at rehabilitation center and 96 were tested positive for
HIV infection. Another 62 belonged to urban area and 34 belonged to rural area. About 80
were living with their families and 16 were living out of their families. The 78% were not having
sufficient earnings for their living. Conclusions: Intravenous drug users were threat to public
health in transmitting HIV infection by sharing needles.