Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among parenteral drug abusers at Dhaka

One hundred parenteral drug abusers were studied with an aim to detect HBsAg in their sera and to know carrier state among them. All subjects, were interviewed and their serum samples were tested for HBsAg by reverse passive haem-agglutination method (RPHA). Eight percent of the drug addicts were found to be positive for HBsAg. The mean age of addicts was 23.65 +/- 5.06 years. Ninety two percent were educated (above class VIII) and 59 percent were students. Forty three percent were influenced by friends to develop this habit and 34 percent became addicted out of frustration. Forty four percent addicts were using disposable syringes and needles and 32 percent were sharing their syringes and needles among themselves. Nineteen percent addicts had past history of jaundice. Fifty seven percent had extra-marital sexual life and 64 percent were lacking in knowledge of spread, or contraction of disease by their habits.