Figure INF-10:  Prevalence of markers of HBV infection estimated among national and sub-national samples of injecting drug users 2003 to 2004, where data are available – Part (i) Percentage positive for ever infected (aHBc) and current infection (HBsAg)

Figure INF-10 part i

Notes:

The graphs shows two different markers for HBV infection: aHBc (blue) and HBsAg (red).

aHBc: Dark blue square = samples with national coverage; blue triangle = samples with subnational (including local or regional) coverage
HBsAg: Brown square = samples with national coverage; red triangle = samples with subnational (including local or regional) coverage

Differences between countries have to be interpreted with caution owing to different types of settings and/or study methods; national sampling strategies vary.

Data for Italy and Austria are not prevalence of aHBc but prevalence of 'all HBV markers' as a proxy of aHBc prevalence.

Data for Portugal include non-IDUs and therefore may underestimate prevalence among IDUs (proportion of non-IDUs in the samples not known).

Data for Belgium and Portugal are limited to prevalence among IDUs in treatment and may not be representative of prevalence among IDUs who are not in treatment.

In addition, data may not be representative for people who are in treatment - this is known to be the case for Belgium.

See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.

Sources:

Reitox national focal points. For primary sources, study details and data before 2003, see Table INF-14.