Behavioural Risk for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Infections among a Population of Drug Users and Injectors across Four Regions in Ghana
Corresponding Author
Chris Guure
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorSharren Margaret Obiri-Yeboah Laryea
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorSamuel Dery
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorCarlota Baptista da Silva
International Consultant, Harm Reduction and Key Population Expert, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorComfort Asamoah-Adu
West Africa Program to Combat AIDS, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorStephen Ayisi-Addo
National AIDS/STI Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana ghanahealthservice.org
Search for more papers by this authorMaria-Goretti Loglo
International Drug Policy Consortium, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorAdamu Mohammed
West Africa Behavioural Health Addictions and Recovery Management, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorKwasi Torpey
Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chris Guure
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorSharren Margaret Obiri-Yeboah Laryea
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorSamuel Dery
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorCarlota Baptista da Silva
International Consultant, Harm Reduction and Key Population Expert, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorComfort Asamoah-Adu
West Africa Program to Combat AIDS, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorStephen Ayisi-Addo
National AIDS/STI Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana ghanahealthservice.org
Search for more papers by this authorMaria-Goretti Loglo
International Drug Policy Consortium, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorAdamu Mohammed
West Africa Behavioural Health Addictions and Recovery Management, Accra, Ghana
Search for more papers by this authorKwasi Torpey
Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana ug.edu.gh
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background. Blood borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV) are of great importance to governments and their implementing partners, especially among people who use drugs (PWUD) and people who inject drugs (PWID). Prevalence and determinants of HIV, HBV, and HCV among PWUD and PWID in Ghana are not well established, the significance of this study. Method. This assessment was a cross-sectional study implemented via the respondent driven sampling approach. A team of community advisory boards that comprised former users, current users, and civil society organizations were constituted to help in the implementation of the study. The study was conducted in four regions in Ghana. The assessment was based on a representation of populations of PWID and PWUD from the four regions. Efforts were made by the team to ensure adequate representation of women where feasible. A quantitative questionnaire was developed and used to obtain information on the respondents’ sociodemographics, sexual behavior, substance use, and biological characteristics. The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among PWID and PWUD was determined using blood samples. First response and oral quick test for confirmation of HIV positivity were carried out, while SD bioline was used to test for the presence of HBV and HBC. Data were analyzed using the Bayesian generalized linear model via the binomial family of distributions under the logit link function with weak Cauchy and Normal distribution as prior. Results. A total of 323 PWUD and PWID participants were interviewed across four regions of Ghana. The overall median age of the respondents was 36 (28, 43) years. The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV infection in the study was 2.5%, 4.6%, and 5.9%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among drug users was 2.5% (95% CI: 0.7%–4.2%), 4.1% (95% CI: 1.8%–6.2%), and 6.7% (95% CI: 3.9%–9.4%), respectively. Most drug injectors and users started using and injecting drugs at ages less than 20 years and between 20 and 29 years, respectively. Drug users who identified themselves as part of the general population were 66% less likely to be tested HIV positive (POR = 0.34, CrI: 0.12–0.81) compared to sex workers. Part time employment respondents had fivefold odds (POR = 5.50, CrI: 1.20–16.16) of being HBV positive as against full-time employment. Conclusion. Most of the injectors and users started drugs at an early age. Drug users and injectors are at higher risk of these infections because of associated risky sexual behaviors and risky injection practices. Harm reduction programs to help addicts who are willing to quit the practice are recommended.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Open Research
Data Availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on request.
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