Bangladesh moves from being a low-prevalence nation for HIV to one with a concentrated epidemic in injecting drug users

Tasnim Azim, M. Rahman, M. S. Alam, I. A. Chowdhury, R. Khan, M. Reza, M. Rahman, E. I. Chowdhury, M. Hanifuddin, A. S.M.M. Rahman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bangladesh has been conducting annual serological surveillance for HIV and syphilis since 1998 among most at-risk populations including sex workers, males having sex with males, injecting drug users (IDUs) and heroin smokers. During the seventh round conducted between January and June 2006, 10,368 people were sampled and the overall HIV prevalence was 0.9%. The highest HIV rate was recorded in male IDUs from the capital city Dhaka (7%), and the rates have risen significantly over the rounds (P < 0.001). In Dhaka, most of the HIV-positive IDUs (10.5%) were localized in one neighbourhood, while in the remaining neighbourhoods 1% were positive (P < 0.001). In all other groups, HIV prevalence was <1%. Active syphilis rates were highest in female IDUs (9.9%) followed by female street-based sex workers (8.6%). However, rates in female sex workers in Dhaka declined significantly over the years (P < 0.001). Bangladesh has to act urgently to prevent escalation of the epidemic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)327-331
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Journal of STD and AIDS
Volume19
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bangladesh
  • HIV
  • Injecting drug users
  • Sex workers
  • Syphilis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Pharmacology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology

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