Enhancing Hepatitis B and C Prevention Among People Who Use Drugs: Evaluating an Educational Intervention at a Drop-In Center in Southwest Iran based on Protection Motivation Theory

The PMT-based educational intervention significantly improved hepatitis B and C preventive behaviors among injecting drug users. These findings suggest that theory-driven, low-cost educational programs grounded in behavioral science can be effectively integrated into harm reduction services among high-risk, marginalized populations. Future studies should assess long-term sustainability, replicate results in diverse and larger settings, and validate outcomes using objective behavioral measures to support broader implementation and policy integration.