Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105619

Grace L. Reynolds, DPA, Dennis G. Fisher, PhD, Adi Jaffe, BA, Christine Willey, MA, and Diana Fernandez, BS. Center for Behavioral Research & Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, 562-495-2330, greynol2@csulb.edu

Objective: To explore the association between risky injection and hygiene practices, and hepatitis A, B, and C infection, in injection drug users.

Methods: The Blood-Borne Virus Transmission Risk Assessment Questionnaire (BBV-TRAQ) was used to elicit information from 388 current and former injection drug users (IDUs) on their injection and hygiene practices. Data from the BBV-TRAQ were linked to participants' blood test results. Demographic information was obtained from the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA).

Results: 49% of participants tested positive for HAV, 52% for HBV and 71% for HCV. HAV negative individuals were more likely to report rinsing with bleach if they used another person's used needle/syringe (Χ²(1, n = 60) = 4.53, p = .03); and were more likely to wash their hands if they touched their injection site (to stop bleeding) after assisting another person with their injection (Χ²(1, n = 47) = 7.31, p = .0068). For HBV negative participants, when another person touched their injection site (to stop bleeding) they were more likely to wash their hands before doing so (Χ²(1, n = 38) = 9.73, p = .0018). HCV negatives were more likely to report cleaning the spoon prior to use if they injected drugs prepared with someone else's spoon (Χ²(1, n = 357) = 9.48, p = .0021).

Conclusions: Avoidance of risky injection and hygiene practices is associated with negative test results for hepatitis A, B, and C. Specific risky practices may be linked to specific hepatitis infections.

Learning Objectives: