Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis C and its related risk behaviours among women who inject drugs in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at great risk of HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). In order to properly design interventions and develop programmes for women who inject drugs, this study assessed the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis and its risk behaviours among women who inject drugs in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Methods: Through modified network sampling in three districts in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, this cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 160 women who inject drugs. Participants' serum samples were tested for HIV, HCV, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis and risk behaviours were assessed through a structured questionnaire. Primary outcome variables were HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis prevalence, and secondary outcome variables were sharing needles in the past month and using condom in last sexual intercourse. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine micro- and macroenvironmental factors associated with secondary outcomes.

Results: The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HBV was 8.8%, 21.3%, and 1.9%, respectively. HIV-HCV co-infection rate was 5.6%. Fifteen percent of women who inject drugs reported transactional sex for drugs or money. One in four women who inject drugs (27.5%) reported that they were imprisoned or detained for drug related reasons. In multivariable analysis, women living with HIV who inject drugs were almost four times more likely to use a previously used needle/syringe than women who inject drugs who were HIV negative (aOR: 4.2 CI: 1.1-15.9,  = 0.03), but were almost four times more likely to use a condom during sexual intercourse (aOR: 3.5 CI: 1.1-28.9,  = 0.03). Enrolment in family planning was the main determinant for using condoms in last sexual intercourse (aOR 4.9 CI: 1.6-16.7,  = 0.006). Participants with access to HIV test and counselling (HTC) services were less likely to share needles (aOR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.8,  = 0.01).

Conclusion: Prevalence of HIV and HCV is high among women who inject drugs in Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Women who inject drugs enrolled in national programmes such as family planning and HTC were positively associated with condom use, and less likely to share needles.