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Hepatitis C prevalence and risk behavior of injecting drug users in Sydney: a continuing concern.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health ; 2001 Dec; 32(4): 823-34
Article in English | IMSEAR | ID: sea-35709
ABSTRACT
This study examines patterns of injecting drug use and hepatitis C (HCV) risk behavior among injecting drug users. A survey of injecting drug users attending needle and syringe programs (NSPs) in the Sydney metropolitan area and members of NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) yielded 336 responses. Demographic, behavioral and drug-use information was collected from injecting drug users aged from 14 to 64 years. The majority of respondents (66%) were HCV positive, 28% had tested negative and 5% did not know their status. Prevalence was higher among men than among women (54% vs 44%). Two thirds of respondents (72%) reported frequent heroin injection. Multivariate analysis identified the following significant risk factors for hepatitis C being more than 30 years of age, an injecting history of five years or more, and having shared drug injecting equipment with a HCV positive user. The most significant factor associated with needle sharing was having unprotected sex with sexual partners and having a positive hepatitis C test result. Early identification of these factors should be a component of HCV prevention programs. Our data indicate that the promotion of safer injecting continues to be an important public health issue with regard to reducing HCV infections.
Subject(s)
Full text: Available Index: IMSEAR (South-East Asia) Main subject: Risk-Taking / Sexual Behavior / Female / Humans / Male / New South Wales / Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Prevalence / Adolescent / Needle Sharing Type of study: Etiology study / Prevalence study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health Year: 2001 Type: Article

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Full text: Available Index: IMSEAR (South-East Asia) Main subject: Risk-Taking / Sexual Behavior / Female / Humans / Male / New South Wales / Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Prevalence / Adolescent / Needle Sharing Type of study: Etiology study / Prevalence study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health Year: 2001 Type: Article