OBJECTIVE: To identify hepatitis B vaccine use and risk behaviors among users of illicit drugs (IDU) in Dourados (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil). METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional field study was conducted by questionnaire with 49 users of illicit drugs who were receiving assistance through rehabilitation centers and support programs within the city. RESULTS: A predominance of young men using non-injectable drugs was identified. A history of imprisonment, hepatitis, tattooing, multiple sexual partners and participation in all forms of sexual intercourse were the most common risk factors. CONCLUSION: These factors, combined with low vaccination rates and lack of completion of the recovery and support programs, confirm the vulnerability of users of IDUs for acquiring hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B virus; Illicit drugs; Vaccination
