Access to Sterile Injecting Equipment is More Important Than Awareness of HCV Status for Injection Risk Behaviors Among Drug Users |
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| Authors: | Joseph Cox Carole Morissette Prithwish De Claude Tremblay Robert Allard Lisa Graves |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Direction de Santé publique, Agence de la Santé et des services Sociaux de Montreal, Montreal, Canada;2. Department of Epidemiology &3. Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada;4. Herzl Family Practice Centre, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada;5. Institut national de santé publique de Québec, Montreal, Canada;6. Department of Epidemiology &7. Herzl Family Practice Centre, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Awareness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status is expected to influence risk behaviors. In 2004–2005, injection drug users (IDUs) recruited from syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and methadone clinics in Montreal, Canada, were interviewed on drug use behaviors (past 6 months) and HCV testing. Subjects (n = 230) were classified as low/intermediate risk (20.4% borrowed drug preparation equipment only) and high risk (19.6% borrowed syringes), and 54.5% reported being HCV positive. Logistic regression modeling showed that compared to no risk (60% borrowed nothing), low/intermediate risk was associated with fewer noninjecting social network members, poor physical health, and problems obtaining sterile injecting equipment. High risk was associated with all of these factors except social networks. HCV status was not associated with any level of risk. Improved access to sterile injecting equipment may be more important than knowledge of HCV status in reducing injection risks among this IDU population. The study limitations are noted and recommendations discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Hepatitis C paraphernalia sharing screening counseling guidelines receptive sharing social network risk hierarchy syringe exchange program (SEP) |
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