Opportunistic infections among HIV positive injecting drug users of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among the 116 HIV positive drug addicted people (male 95 and female 21) in Dhaka city during September 2012 to March 2013 and major aimed at to assess thespectrum of opportunistic infections among HIV positive injecting drug users. Young adults aged 20–30 years are more frequent drug users and male are more prone to drug addicted compare to females. Educational backgrounds of the HIV positive drug users were not satisfactory as 67.4% were illiterate or primary educated. Twenty two percent male respondents were jobless whereas 52.4% female respondents were sex worker. Majority (68.1%) of the drugs addicted were earn monthly less than Tk. 10,000 and 13.8% earn more than Tk. 20,000. About 97.9% male and 52.4% female respondent were taken injecting drugs for the last five years but 35.4% of all respondent got to know about HIV affected after 1 year of starting drugs addiction. Anti Retroviral Therapy for HIV Patients must be needed but only 35.8% male and 23.8% female respondent were taken it regularly. Majority of the male respondent (44.21%) were infected by skin infections pulmonary infection and tuberculosis (17.7%) abuse or cellulitis () but female respondent were mainly affected by Skin infection (Fungal, Scabies) and oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis. When these infections and health condition deteriorated then the majorities (77.6%) of the respondents went for treatment in the program (Mukta Akash), 12.93% went in other hospital and 9.48% went in pharmacy. On the other hand, 62.9% of the respondents were taken proper courses for treatment and another 37.1% respondent didn’t complete their proper treatment. However, 70.7% of the respondents were known about opportunistic infection and 47.4% of the respondents have knowledge about repeated occurrence on opportunistic infection.