High Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection among Injection Drug Users in Iran: the Need to Increase Vaccination of Adults at Risk

Abstract-we measured the prevalence of hbv surface antigen (hbsag) among male injection drug users (idus) in detention, tehran, iran. a cross-sectional survey included 499 male idus arrested by police dur- ing a predetermined police sweep in tehran (february, 2006). a questionnaire was filled out for each indi- vidual. blood specimens were collected for hbsag testing. prevalence of hbsag was 5.8% (95% ci 3.6- 7.9). the majority of chronic hbv infections, 69.2%, were among adults age 25 to 34 years. the high preva- lence of hbsag highlights the need for special efforts to increase vaccination among adult populations at risk for hbv infection in order to reducing continuing transmission and stave off future high burden of disease.