Sharing of noninjection drug-use implements as a risk factor for hepatitis C.
This study examined sharing noninjection drug implements as a risk factor for hepatitis C (HCV) infection among women drug users (n = 123) with no history of drug injection. Participants were street-recruited from East Harlem, New York City, between October 1997 and June 1999. Participants were administered a survey measuring risk factors for HCV. Prevalence of HCV and HIV infections was 19.5% and 14.6%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression determined significant associations between sharing noninjection drug-use implements and HCV infection. "Ever shared both oral and intranasal noninjection drug implements" was independently associated with HCV infection [Odds ratio (OR) 2.83; Confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 7.72; p = 0.04]; "ever shared noninjected heroin implements with an injector" was a trend (OR 3.06; CI .85, 10.79; p = 0.08). The strongest association between sharing noninjection drug-use implements and HCV infection was found among HIV positive individuals (chi2 = 8.8, 1 d.f., p < 0.01). These findings, if supported by future research, indicate a need to reassess policies regarding HCV infection.
Tortu
Stephanie
S
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. stortu@tulane.edu
McMahon
James M
JM
Pouget
Enrique R
ER
Hamid
Rahul
R
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology