Background and Objective: Drug users (DU) are considered a high-risk population for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and syphilis. In Burkina Faso, there is limited data on HIV and syphilis infections among drug users. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis among drug users.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, biological and behavioral study conducted between June and July, 2022, among drug users in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, the two main cities of Burkina Faso. The respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method was used to recruit participants. A behavioral questionnaire was administered to each participant, followed by a blood sampling for HIV and syphilis testing. Statistical analysis was conducted taking into account the respondent-based sampling procedure.
Results: A total of 323 drug users were recruited. The participants were predominantly male (97.5%). The average age of the participants was 32.7±10.96 years. The 132 participants (40.9%) used the drug for the first time before the age of 18. The majority of DUs have used cannabis (80.5%), followed by heroin (51.7%), cocaine and crack (41.8%). Inhaling and smoking were the most common modes of drug consumption. Only one person (0.6%) used heroin by injection. The adjusted prevalence of HIV and syphilis were 0.45 and 3.54%, respectively. Exposure to HIV program interventions like the free distribution of condoms and water-based lubricant gel was significantly associated with a low prevalence of syphilis infection (p

Sero-epidemiology HIV syphilis associated factors drug users Burkina Faso