Background This study aimed at determining the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among incarcerated people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran in 2015–16. Methods The required data was collected from a database provided by Iranian national bio-behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSSs) on 11,988 prisoners selected from among 55 prisons in 19 provinces in 2015–16. The data on demographics and behavioral variables were collected through interviews and the status of exposure to HBV and HCV were determined using ELISA blood test. A total of 1387 individuals with a history of drug injection in their lifetime were enrolled into the study. Data were analyzed using the survey package in Stata/SE software, Version 14.0. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to investigate the relationships between risk factors and outcomes. Results The mean age of the incarcerated PWID was 36.83 ± 8.13 years. Of all the studied subjects, 98.46% were male and 50.97% were married. The prevalence of HCV and HBV among the subjects were 40.52 and 2.46%, respectively. The prevalence of HCV was associated with age ≥ 30 years, being single, illiteracy and low level of education, prison term> 5 years, history of piercing, and extramarital sex in lifetime (P < 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of HCV is alarmingly high. In general, it is recommended to adopt measures to screen and treat patients with HCV and vaccinat incarcerated PWID without a history of vaccination against HBV.

Background: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among incarcerated people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran during 2015-16. Methods : The required data was collected from a database provided by Iranian national bio-behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSSs) of 11988 prisoners who were selected using multi-stage sampling method from among 55 prisons in 19 provinces during 2015-16. The data on demographics and behavioral status of subjects were collected through interviews and the status of HBV and HCV exposure were determined using ELISA blood test. A total of 1387 individuals with a lifetime history of drug injection were enrolled into the study. Data were analyzed using the survey package in Stata/SE 14.0. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the relationships between risk factors and outcomes. Results : The mean age of the incarcerated PWID was 36.83 ± 8.13 years. Of all, 98.46% were male and 50.97% were married. The prevalence of HCV and HBV were 40.52% and 2.46%, respectively. HCV prevalence was associated with age≥30 years, being single, illiteracy and low level of education, prison term>5 years, history of piercing, and extramarital sex in a lifetime (P<0.05). Conclusions : The prevalence of HCV is alarmingly high. In general, it is recommended to adopt measures for HCV screening and treatment and HBV vaccination for incarcerated PWID without a history of vaccination.

Background: Pertussis is a respiratory tract infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, which causes inflammation of the lungs and respiratory tract. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and geographical distribution of pertussis using the geographic information system (GIS) and to predict its incidence in Iran in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study. Information on pertussis was obtained from the Center for Communicable Diseases Control during 2009-2015. In the next step, the ArcGIS 9.3 was used to prepare geographic maps of the disease incidence and frequency. Therefore, the disease prediction map was drawn. using the Raster Calculator tool. Results: The results showed that the highest incidence of pertussis during 2009-2015 was in Zanjan, Qom, Mazandaran, and Qazvin provinces. The incidence of pertussis in Iran increased from 0.74 in 2009 to 1.53 in 2015. Based on the modeling results for Iran, Qom, Mazandaran, Tehran, Qazvin, and Zanjan provinces, with 76.76%, 73.69%, 66.32%, 30.94% and 24.18% of their areas (Km2), are at high risk for pertussis in the coming years, respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of the disease has been increasing in recent years, indicating the emergence of the disease in Iran. The modeling maps show that the Iranian provinces of Qom, Tehran, Zanjan, and Qazvin are at risk of the disease incidence in the coming years, indicating the need for planning, appropriate interventions and more precise implementation of the vaccination program against the disease.

Background: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among incarcerated people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran in 2015-16. Methods : The required data was collected from a database provided by Iranian national bio-behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSSs) on 11988 prisoners selected from among 55 prisons in 19 provinces in 2015-16. The data on demographics and behavioral variables were collected through interviews and the status of exposure to HBV and HCV were determined using ELISA blood test. A total of 1387 individuals with a history of drug injection in their lifetime were enrolled into the study. Data were analyzed using the survey package in Stata/SE software, Version 14.0. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to investigate the relationships between risk factors and outcomes.Results : The mean age of the incarcerated PWID was 36.83 ± 8.13 years. Of all the studied subjects, 98.46% were male and 50.97% were married. The prevalence of HCV and HBV among the subjects were 40.52% and 2.46%, respectively. The prevalence of HCV was associated with age≥30 years, being single, illiteracy and low level of education, prison term>5 years, history of piercing, and extramarital sex in lifetime (P<0.05). Conclusions : The prevalence of HCV is alarmingly high. In general, it is recommended to adopt measures to screen and treat patients with HCV and vaccinat incarcerated PWID without a history of vaccination against HBV.

Background: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among incarcerated people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran in 2015-16. Methods: The required data was collected from a database provided by Iranian national bio-behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSSs) on 11988 prisoners selected from among 55 prisons in 19 provinces in 2015-16. The data on demographics and behavioral variables were collected through interviews and the status of exposure to HBV and HCV were determined using ELISA blood test. A total of 1387 individuals with a history of drug injection in their lifetime were enrolled into the study. Data were analyzed using the survey package in Stata/SE software, Version 14.0. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were used to investigate the relationships between risk factors and outcomes.Results: The mean age of the incarcerated PWID was 36.83 ± 8.13 years. Of all the studied subjects, 98.46% were male and 50.97% were married. The prevalence of HCV and HBV among the subjects were 40.52% and 2.46%, respectively. The prevalence of HCV was associated with age≥30 years, being single, illiteracy and low level of education, prison term>5 years, history of piercing, and extramarital sex in lifetime (P<0.05).Conclusions: The prevalence of HCV is alarmingly high. In general, it is recommended to adopt measures to screen and treat patients with HCV and vaccinat incarcerated PWID without a history of vaccination against HBV.