Willingness to Receive Treatment for Hepatitis C among Injecting Drug ‎Users on Methadone Program: Implications for Education and Treatment

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common among people who inject drugs (PWID) on methadone program in Iran (Persia). However, a few PWID on methadone program report willingness to receive HCV treatment. This study aimed to assess the factors which were associated with willingness to receive HCV treatment in a group of PWID on methadone program in Iran.Methods: We surveyed 187 PWID at seven drops in centers in Tehran, Iran. Details of demographic characteristics, drug use, injection, HCV, and drug treatment history were collected a using 25-item questionnaire. Participants were serologically tested for the current status of HCV.Findings: The study found that 28.3% of the participants were HCV seropositive. In total, 49.1% of the participants reported unwillingness to receive HCV treatment. Awareness of current HCV status [odds ratio (OR) = 3.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-7.26; P < 0.050]; adequate knowledge of HCV treatment centers in the community (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.24-5.38; P < 0.050); participation in an educational program on HCV (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 2.33-8.56; P < 0.001) and recent participation in the meetings of self-help groups (OR = 4.6; 95% CI: 3.43-9.33; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with current willingness to receive HCV treatment. Conclusion:The study results indicate that awareness of HCV status and the provision of adequate HCV education via different information centers can be associated with an increased willingness for HCV treatment among PWID on methadone program. Conducting more research is suggested to assess the efficacy of educational programs and self-help groups in facilitating HCV treatment among PWID on methadone program

Iranian Female Methadone Patients and the Perceived Educational Needs Related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Background: Iranian female methadone patients are at risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to involvement in high-risk sexual behaviours and/or needle sharing. The present study aimed to explore the perceived educational needs related to HIV among a group of Iranian female methadone patients. Methods:The research design was qualitative and the participants were sampled purposively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 women and 19 clinicians in Sari, Mashhad, and Tehran, Iran. Then, qualitative content analysis was implemented. Findings: The emergence of three major themes and six minor themes was revealed. Women expressed a need to increase their knowledge including women-specific pathophysiology and disease progression and the modes of the virus transmission and prevention. Women also expressed a need to enhance their knowledge and skills related to the physical management of the virus including self-care and reproductive health. Other themes included perceived psychosocial needs including removing stigma and access to resources in the community. Conclusion: Women reported a wide range of educational needs from basic knowledge to advanced skills. The findings can be used in designing women-specific educational programs related to HIV in Iran. Larger studies are suggested with gender-mixed samples in the Persian contex

Prevalence of Drug Injection, Sexual Activity, Tattooing, and Piercing among Prison Inmates

Prisoners engage in a range of risk behaviors that can lead to the transmission of viral infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In this review, we summarize the epidemiologic literature from 2007 to 2017 on 4 key risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus among prisoners globally: drug injection, sexual activity, tattooing, and piercing. Of 9,303 peer-reviewed and 4,150 gray literature publications, 140 and 14, respectively, met inclusion criteria covering 53 countries (28%). Regions with high levels of injection drug use were Asia Pacific (20.2%), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (17.3%), and Latin America and the Caribbean (11.3%), although the confidence interval for Latin America was high. Low levels of injection drug use in prison were found in African regions. The highest levels of sexual activity in prison were in Europe and North America (12.1%) and West and Central Africa (13.6%); low levels were reported from the Middle East and North African regions (1.5%). High levels of tattooing were reported from Europe and North America (14.7%), Asia Pacific (21.4%), and Latin America (45.4%). Prisons are burdened with a high prevalence of infectious diseases and risk behaviors for transmission of these diseases, and, commonly, a striking lack of evidence-based infection control measures, even when such measures are available in the surrounding community. Given that most prisoners return to these communities, failure to implement effective responses has repercussions not only prisoner health but also for public health

Prevalence of drug injection, sexual activity, tattooing, and piercing among prison inmates

Prisoners engage in a range of risk behaviors that can lead to the transmission of viral infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In this review, we summarize the epidemiologic literature from 2007 to 2017 on 4 key risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus among prisoners globally: drug injection, sexual activity, tattooing, and piercing. Of 9,303 peer-reviewed and 4,150 gray literature publications, 140 and 14, respectively, met inclusion criteria covering 53 countries (28%). Regions with high levels of injection drug use were Asia Pacific (20.2%), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (17.3%), and Latin America and the Caribbean (11.3%), although the confidence interval for Latin America was high. Low levels of injection drug use in prison were found in African regions. The highest levels of sexual activity in prison were in Europe and North America (12.1%) and West and Central Africa (13.6%); low levels were reported from the Middle East and North African regions (1.5%). High levels of tattooing were reported from Europe and North America (14.7%), Asia Pacific (21.4%), and Latin America (45.4%). Prisons are burdened with a high prevalence of infectious diseases and risk behaviors for transmission of these diseases, and, commonly, a striking lack of evidence-based infection control measures, even when such measures are available in the surrounding community. Given that most prisoners return to these communities, failure to implement effective responses has repercussions not only prisoner health but also for public health