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

Abstract #118150

Basmattee Boodram, MPH, Ronald C. Hershow, MD, and Lawrence J. Ouellet, PhD. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-355-3806, bboodram@uic.edu

Objective: To describe barriers to seeking treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection among Chicago IDUs participating in the NIDA-funded “Early natural history of HCV infection among young IDUs study (NAT_HCV)”, 2002-2005. Methods: To date, 116 HCV antibody-positive, young (median age=25), predominantly non-Hispanic white (58%), male (59%) IDUs have enrolled in NAT_HCV after referral from studies of street-recruited IDUs. Data were gathered using audio computer-assisted self-interview and person-to-person interviews. Results: Participants had relatively recent HCV infection (estimated median years of infection=2.5). We hypothesized that these participants would have better treatment responses than IDUs reported in the literature with more established chronic infection. Thus, those having a detectable HCV viral load were encouraged to consider liver disease evaluation and treatment (n=83, 72%). However, only 3 (4%) participants with medical insurance commenced treatment, while the remaining 70 encountered ³1 obstacles. First, all 70 participants had no medical coverage. All were directed to the county hospital after 5 participants (7%) unsuccessfully applied for Medicaid. Seven participants (10%) attended an evaluation visit, but none commenced drug therapy. Participants not attending the evaluation visit cited ³1 major barriers to obtaining treatment, including: 1) having to seek medical care at a county hospital (most of the study population were suburban residents); 2) requirement of drug use reduction/cessation; 3) fear of liver biopsy; 4) side-effects and/or rigor of treatment regimen. Conclusion: There are substantial barriers to accessing treatment among young IDUs with recent HCV infections. These include lack of health care coverage and a stringent treatment process.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify characteristics of young IDUs from metropolitan Chicago.
• Present data on the HCV treatment experience of young IDUs participating in a prospective study.
• Describe barriers to seeking treatment among young IDUs with chronic HCV infection.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Barriers to Care

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.