Hepatitis C virus seroconversion among young injection drug users: relationships and risks.
The present study examined reasons for the high incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among young injection drug users (IDUs). IDUs <30 years old who tested negative for HCV antibody were enrolled in a prospective cohort. Risk factors for seroconversion were examined using time-dependent regression analyses: 48 of 195 IDUs seroconverted to HCV, for an incidence rate of 25.1/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 18.7-32.9/100 person-years). Independent risk factors included sharing needles with an HCV-infected sex partner (borderline statistical significance, P=.11) or a person who was not a sex partner, sharing nonsterile drug-preparation equipment, pooling money with another IDU to buy drugs, and exchanging sex for money. Ubiquitous behaviors among young IDUs, such as the forming of injecting or sexual partnerships and consequent sharing of needles and drug preparation equipment, are risk factors for HCV. Interventions to reduce HCV transmission must recognize the importance of relationships on injecting risk.
Hahn
Judith A
JA
Department of Epidemiology, University of California, San Francisco, 94110, USA. jhahn@epi.ucsf.edu
Page-Shafer
Kimberly
K
Lum
Paula J
PJ
Bourgois
Philippe
P
Stein
Ellen
E
Evans
Jennifer L
JL
Busch
Michael P
MP
Tobler
Leslie H
LH
Phelps
Bruce
B
Moss
Andrew R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies