Pumping iron, risking infection? Exposure to hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV among anabolic-androgenic steroid injectors in Victoria, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To measure exposure to the hepatitis C and B viruses and HIV among Victorian steroid injectors and evaluate associations between exposure and risk behaviour, and report other characteristics of the study group.


METHODS
Seroprevalence study using a convenience sample.


METHODS
Victoria, Australia.


METHODS
Current injectors of illicit anabolic steroids.


METHODS
Prevalences of exposure to HIV and the hepatitis B and C viruses; associations of characteristics and behaviours with exposure; descriptive statistics for the sample.


RESULTS
Six of 63 blood samples (9.5%) contained hepatitis C virus antibodies; 12.0% tested positive for hepatitis B core antibody; none contained anti-HIV. Hepatitis C virus exposure was associated with heroin injection, imprisonment, sharing needles to inject other drugs, number of tattoos, and hepatitis B virus exposure. No significant differences existed in the steroid-related risk behaviour of exposed and non-exposed individuals. Hepatitis B virus exposure was associated only with hepatitis C virus exposure, past imprisonment and age of first injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to the hepatitis B and C viruses was detected; hepatitis C virus exposure was at much lower prevalence than normally found among other drug injectors. Factors other than steroid injecting were associated with exposure. Nonetheless, the hepatitis C-exposed reported many steroid-related and other risk behaviours which could spread the virus. Steroid injectors should not be neglected in blood-borne virus prevention efforts.
Aitken
Campbell
C
The Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, P.O. Box 254, Fairfield, 3078, Victoria, Australia. aitkenc@burnet.edu.au
Delalande
Cheryl
C
Stanton
Kay
K
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000523:psychology
D045930:Anabolic Agents