Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) Among Injection Drug Users (IDUs) in Zanjan-Iran

Background and Objective: Injection Drug Users (IDUs) include more than ۶۹.۹% of known HIV/AIDS cases in Iran. The most important causes of HIV among them are syringe sharing and high risk behaviours such as sexual practice with different partners. Since IDUs are hard to reach and there is little information about them, this behavioural survey conducted to explore Zanjan district’s injection drug users in relation to HIV/AIDS. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional study, ۶۱ IDUs, inhabitants of Zanjan, were selected in non-random sampling by referring to the most probable sites and places of their presence. Data was collected using a standard Family Health Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) questionnaire designed especially for IDUs. Results: Mean duration of non injected and injected drug use was ۱۲.۱±۵ and ۴.۵±۳.۵ years respectively, and age of the first injection was ۲۴±۵.۴ years. The most frequently injected drug was Heroin (۹۶.۷%) and the most non-injected one was Cannabis (۸۵.۲). ۵۵.۷% of IDUs injected ۴ or more times per day, and ۳۲.۸% reported needle sharing. ۱۰۰% of the subjects knew the role of used syringe in HIV transmitting. ۴۴.۳% had taken an HIV test, and ۷۰.۴% knew about their HIV status. Conclusion: The early age of starting drug injection, needle sharing, coverage of voluntary HIV testing in less than ۲۵%, and unawareness of ۱/۳ of them about their HIV test status indicate the significance of priority and service delivery to this most high risk group.

Keywords:

Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BSS) , High risk behaviours , Injection Drug Users (IDUs) , HIV/AIDS