Abstract:

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis B virus is the viral infection that attacks the liver cell which may cause both acute and chronic disease of the liver and later to other body systems. In people using drugs/substance abuse like Heroin injection are at high risk of being infected with Hepatitis B and C infections and other contagious infections. Methadone is the drug used for treatment of people who have addictive with Heroin substance, Methadone drug is taken orally to counteract the effect of Heroin.

The objective of this study was to determine sero-prevalence, associated risk factors, and knowledge assessment and vaccination coverage of Hepatitis B viral infection among people who are using substance/drugs abuse currently on Methadone treatment at Sekou-Toure Regional Hospital.

Methods: This was a cross sectional hospital study, involving 254 clients who attends methadone clinic a Sekou Toure Regional Hospital in Mwanza.

Results: A total of 254 clients using Heroin and other substance abuse who attends Methadone clinic at Sekou Toure Regional Hospital were participated in this study and the mean age of the participants in this study was 32 years. A 180 (70%) participants were using Heroin alone and 3 (1.2%) were using a mixture of heroin, marijuana and valium. Total 32 (12.6%) participants were using injection route only, and 125 (49.2%) were using both sniffing and injection. A total 9 (3.5%) participants were tested positive for HBsAg, 9 (3.5%) of the participants were tested HCV positive, HIV also were tested and total of 32 (12.6%) participants were positive. There was an association between clients who were on IV heroin Against HBV and unprotected multiple sexual partners group against HBV in which their P-value are 0.015 and 0.007 respectively. A 254 (100%) participants have not received HBV vaccine. The knowledge score was calculated where 6.7% has good knowledge, 14.6% had moderate knowledge and 78.8% has poor knowledge. The study shown to have significant number who are seropositive HBV and Hepatitis C positive. It is also show the significant increase in HIV than Hepatitis.

Recommendations: All clients who are using substance abuse (heroin and substance) currently on Methadone treatment should be prevented by giving them HBV vaccine against HBV since there are high risk to be infected when there taking there substance. The Government also should put more efforts by employing psychologist, sociologist who very well in counseling this group of people to stop using substance abuse which are risk factors for HBV infections.