The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3040.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 9:30 AM

Abstract #46963

Who's getting tested for Hepatitis C (HCV)? A look at predictors for HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men (MSM)

Caroline Bailey, MA1, Ann O'Leary, PhD1, David Purcell, JD, PhD1, Cynthia Gomez, PhD2, and Perry Halkitis, PhD3. (1) BIRB, DHAP, NCHSTP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road (E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333, 404 639-1900, zsi7@cdc.gov, (2) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105, (3) Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training, 250 West 26th St., 3rd Floor, New York City, NY 10001

Many people infected with HIV are also at risk for co-infection with hepatitis C, a viral infection spread by blood-blood contact. We assessed the HCV-related behaviors and risk perceptions of HIV-seropositive (HIV+) MSM (N=1,163) recruited from community venues in New York and San Francisco. Self-reported data including beliefs concerning risk for HCV and whether participants had been tested were collected using audio-computer assisted self-interviews. The mean age of participants was 41, (SD=7.9), and they were primarily White (48%), African American (28%), or Hispanic (17%). 50% of the participants thought they were at risk for HCV, 64% (N=746) reported being tested, and 14% (N=168) of these reported a positive test result. Lifetime rate of injection drug use was 20%, and 6% reported borrowing or lending needles in the past three months. 53% (N=86) of those who reported testing positive for HCV reported never having injected non-prescription drugs. Those who perceived they were at risk were more likely to be tested (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.04 to 1.86). Behaviors associated with perceived risk of HCV were a history of having injected non-prescription drugs (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.2 to 2.3) and unprotected anal insertive sex (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.08 to 1.81). This study illustrates high rates of perceived risk for HCV as well as actual risk for HCV infection among HIV+ MSM, suggesting the importance of HCV prevention when designing interventions for this population.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Gay Men, Hepatitis C

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

HIV Prevention: Gender, Cultural, Geographic, Age, and Risk Factors

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA