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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Lauretta E. Grau, Ph D¹, Helen He, MS¹, Merrill Singer, Ph D², and Robert Heimer, Ph D¹. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, PO Box 208034, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, 203-785-2904, lauretta.grau@yale.edu, (2) Hispanic Health Council, 175 Main St., Hartford, CT 06106

Background: A secondary study aim was to determine HCV seroprevalence among Connecticut IDUs.

Methods: Blood drawn for HBV sero-analysis was also analyzed for HCV antibody. Those eligible for vaccination completed another questionnaire on risk behaviors and hepatitis knowledge at the Dose 1 visit and an additional blood sample was taken at the Dose 3 visit.

Results: Testing of 639 samples at baseline revealed that 79% were HCV-positive, with no difference between cities. The self-reported rate of HCV infection was only 34%. Three-fifths were both HCV-infected and previously infected with HBV; 3% were currently co-infected. Finally, 20% of participants who qualified for HBV vaccination and were HCV-negative at screen were HCV infected at follow-up.

Data on self-reported injection-associated risk behaviors were available for 101 participants. In the 30 days prior to interview, 19% of participants reported sharing syringes, 33% shared cookers, and 26% shared drug preparation water. Only 43% stanched post-injection blood flow with appropriate materials while 22% reported using alcohol pads to stanch the flow of blood despite several years' effort to encourage IDUs to use special non-alcohol pads instead.

Most participants were knowledgeable about HBV and HCV risks and preventive measures, but approximately one-third were unaware of the relative ease of hepatitis transmission and believed that a HCV vaccine was available.

Conclusions: HCV screening of IDUs should be increased, follow-up counseling should focus on overcoming the misapprehensions about transmission and the high residual risks, and access to treatment for active HCV infection should be expanded.

Learning Objectives:

• Hepatitis C seroprevalence rates among active injection drug users in Hartford and Bridgeport, CT will be identified along with the rates of injection-associated risk behaviors will be identified, and implications for public health campaigns will be discussed.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Hepatitis C

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation