Sexual behaviour and infection rates for HIV, blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections among patients attending drug treatment centres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A survey was carried out in 2 drug use treatment centres (TCs) in Rio de Ja neiro, Brazil, to assess risk behaviours, HN infection and other sexually t ransmitted infections/blood-borne infections (STIs/BBIs). Two hundred and t wenty-five drug users (195 males and 30 females) were interviewed and clini cally examined, and their blood and urine were tested for STIs/BBIs. Preval ences (%) for these infections were as follows - HIV: 0.9, hepatitis B viru s (HBV): 14.7, hepatitis C virus (HCV): 5.8, syphilis: 5.3, gonorrhoea/chla mydia (CT/NG): 4.7. In bivariate analyses CT/NG infection was associated wi th younger age (P=0.003); current genitourinary symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=6 .2) and a mainly illegal source of income (OR=9.1). Hepatitis C infection w as associated with a history of ever having injected any drug (OR=19.6), an d with each one of the injected drugs. After multiple logistic regression, lower educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.70) and 'ever having i njected drugs' (AOR=3.69) remained as independent risk factors for hepatiti s B infection. In conclusion, TCs must implement programmes directed toward s the prevention of STIs/BBIs.