HIV infection and associated risk factors among long-distance truck drivers travelling through Azerbaijan

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 20; no. 7; p. 477
• Main Authors: Botros, B A, Aliyev, Q M, Saad, M D, Michael, A A, Sanchez, J L, Carr, J K, Earhart, K C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Azerbaijan; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Vehicles; Occupations; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Russia; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - virology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Travel; Ukraine; Young Adult; Azerbaijan; Ukraine; Russia
• ISSN: 0956-4624
• DOI: 10.1258/ijsa.2008.008396

The aim of this study was to assess HIV prevalence and associated risk behaviours among international truck drivers (TDs) in Azerbaijan. The subjects signed consent and completed a questionnaire. Blood was tested using two rapid HIV tests: Determine and OraQuick. Genotyping was performed on 13 positives. Overall, 3763 TDs from 21 countries were enrolled. Fifty-eight (1.54%) were HIV-positive. Highest prevalence was among Russians (2.88%), Ukrainians (1.66%) and Azerbaijani (1.09%). On univariate analysis, highest prevalence (60%) was among injecting drug users (IDUs) compared with 0.4% among non-IDUs (P < 0.001). The prevalence in men who had sex with men (MSM) (42.9%) was high (P </= 0.001). On multivariate analysis, IDUs and MSM remained as the main HIV independent risk factors. Additional risk factors include no condom use, no circumcision and a history of an sexually transmitted infection. Eleven of 13 samples were subtype A. In conclusion, HIV was highly associated with IDU and MSM. The detected HIV subtypes A and B are those predominant in the former Soviet Union.