Related factors and interaction on HIV/HCV co-infection of patients access to methadone maintenance treatment / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection and explore the influence factors and their interaction on HIV/HCV co-infection of patient's access to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: A face to face interviews were conducted among 750 patients at two MMT clinics in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The questionnaires information included demographic characteristics, HIV and HCV infection status, history of drug abuse, urine test for morphine, high risk sex behaviors, needle sharing, dropped out etc. Methods of χ(2) test one-way, multivariate logistic regression and interactions were used to analyze the related factors of HIV/HCV co-infection. Results: The study subjects included 750 participants, 18.31% (127/691) of patients were co-infected with HIV and HCV. The HIV/HCV co-infection rate in patients who shared needles with others or dropped out of treatment was 35.84% (81/226) and 19.88% (64/322) respectively, which were higher than those who have never shared needles or dropped out (9.89%, 46/465 and 17.07%, 63/369). Logistic regression analysis results showed that after adjusted for confounding factors, patients who shared needles (OR=4.50, 95%CI: 2.72-7.43) and dropped out of treatment (OR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.04-2.80) were more likely to be infected with HIV/HCV. Interaction analysis showed that sharing needles and dropping out of treatment exist additive effect on co-infection of HIV and HCV (RERI=4.21, AP=0.44, SI=1.95). Conclusions: Needle sharing and dropping out of treatment are associated with HIV/HCV co-infection. Health education, psychological counseling and other measures should be taken to reduce needle sharing and dropping out of MMT.

HIV risk and prior drug treatment among Puerto Rican intravenous drug users

El uso compartido de aparatos para la inyección de drogas constituye el medio más comúm de transmissión del VIH en Puerto Rico. Existe una gran necesidad de información sobre estilos de vida y conducta de riesgo de usuarios de drogas inyectadas (UDI's) que no están bajo tratamiento. El estudio analiza los patrones de utilización de programas de tratamiento entre 862 UDI's y las diferencias entre UDI's con y sin historial de tratamiento. Los resultados revelam que los terceras partes de los UDI's habían estado bajo tratamiento; en un promedio de tres veces, con una estadía promedio de tres semanas. Un análisis discriminante escalonado reveló que el número de años inyectándose, estadias en prisión, diagnósticos previos de hepatitis y vivir con los padres son los factores más relevantes para discrimianr entre aquellos con y sin historial previo de tratamiento. Las implicaciones de política pública de los resultados son también mencionados