Reported prevalence of hepatitis C among clients of needle exchanges in southeast Queensland.
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C infection among attenders of several high-volume needle exchanges in southeast Queensland, and to compare the prevalences among the needle exchanges. Clients at four needle exchanges were surveyed over a five-day period by means of a self-administered questionnaire. A high proportion of respondents (76 per cent) reported having been tested for hepatitis C antibodies and the overall prevalence of reported hepatitis C infection was 34 per cent. Thirty-one per cent of the respondents were amphetamine injectors, among whom there was a lower prevalence of reported hepatitis C infection than among opioid injectors (odds ratio 0.18, P < 0.01). There were some differences in the respondents' characteristics and in hepatitis C prevalence between different needle exchanges. The reported prevalence of HIV infection was 2 per cent. This study highlights the importance of surveying a range of needle exchanges to obtain a representative sample of needle-exchange clients overall. The low prevalence of hepatitis C in some groups of injecting drug users suggests that it is possible to prevent hepatitis C transmission among injecting drug users, and points to the opportunity for aiming hepatitis C prevention strategies at these groups.
Selvey
L A
LA
Queensland Health Department, Brisbane.
Wignall
J
J
Buzolic
A
A
Sullivan
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors