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

Abstract #118073

Wei Hua, MS, MD, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1629 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-502-5368, whua@jhsph.edu and Carl A. Latkin, PhD, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Room 737, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Injection drug use is the leading cause of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the U.S. Although HCV and HIV share common transmission modes, evidence shows that HCV is acquired quicker after initiation of injection and more efficiently transmitted parenterally through low-dose percutaneous exposure, indicating different risk profiles of the two viruses. Compared to massive HIV research, few studies have intensively examined factors contributing to HCV infection especially in social contexts. This study applied social network methodology in a sample of inner-city injection drug users (IDUs). Data are collected as a part of the STEP-into-Action project, a network-oriented HIV/STDs prevention intervention among IDUs. A 3-dimensional HCV risk assessment survey characteristic to the drug injecting population is administered. Baseline data are analyzed exploring egocentric network correlates of HCV-specific risk behaviors, focusing on structure of, and the characteristics of the members of the drug network. Most of the current sample are African-American males. IDUs who have a large, low density drug network, have more new injectors in network, or have more network members who inject cocaine are more likely to perform HCV-specific risk behaviors. Degree of overlap between injection network and sex network is also associated with level of HCV-specific risk behaviors. The expected whole sample is anticipated to be consistent with the current sample. As HCV-related chronic liver disease becomes a leading cause of hospital admissions and deaths among persons living with HIV/AIDS, this information may be useful in understanding HCV risk profile and promoting specific HIV/HCV combined intervention targeting high-risk IDUs.

Learning Objectives:

• To assess the association between personal network characteristics and HCV-specific risk behaviors

Keywords: Injection Drug Users,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.