Prevalence of hepatitis C, HIV, and risk behaviors for blood-borne infections: A population-based survey of the adult population of T'bilisi, Republic of Georgia

Ketevan Stvilia, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, Lali Sharvadze, Malvina Aladashvili, Carlos Del Rio, Mark H. Kuniholm, Kenrad E. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Injection drug use and associated hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infections are on the rise in Russia and the republics of the former Soviet Union. While small targeted studies have found widespread drug use and disease among at-risk populations, there have been few attempts to comprehensively evaluate the extent of these epidemics in general post-Soviet societies. We conducted a two-stage cluster randomized survey of the entire adult population of T'bilisi, Republic of Georgia and assessed the burden of HCV, HIV, and risk behaviors for blood-borne infections in 2,000 study participants. Of the 2,000 surveyed individuals, 162 (8.1%) had injected illicit drugs during their lifetimes. Of the individuals who had injected illicit drugs, 138 (85.2%) reported sharing needles with injection partners. HCV was found in 134 (6.7%) of the total surveyed population, but in 114 (70.4%) of those who had injected illicit drugs. We found HIV in only three (0.2%) individuals, all of whom had injected illicit drugs. Injection drug use and high-risk injection practices are very common in Georgia and may be harbingers of a large burden of HCV-associated liver diseases and a potentially serious HIV epidemic in the years to come.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)289-298
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Urban Health
Volume83
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Hepatitis C virus
  • Injection drug use
  • Needle sharing
  • Republic of Georgia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Urban Studies
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence of hepatitis C, HIV, and risk behaviors for blood-borne infections: A population-based survey of the adult population of T'bilisi, Republic of Georgia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this