title: Prevalence of hepatitis C in drug users in Flanders: determinants and geographic differences.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis C and related risk factors in drug users were compared in two geographic regions in Belgium, the city of Antwerp and the mixed urban-rural area of Limburg. All 310 participants were surveyed and screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Prevalence rates of anti-HCV, anti-HBc and anti-HIV were 71, 62 and 4% in Antwerp and 46, 21 and 0% in Limburg respectively. Injecting drug use, duration of injecting drug use, work as a commercial sex-worker, originating from Turkey or Northern Africa, marginalization and anti-HBc positivity were identified as independent predictors for hepatitis C infection. In this study an important difference in HCV seroprevalence among drug users in a methadone maintenance programme across two geographic regions in Belgium was demonstrated. This was explained not only by variations in drug-related risk behaviour, but also by differences in sexual risk behaviour and socio-economic status.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. catharina.mathei@pandora.be
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matheï
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robaeys
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Damme
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buntinx
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verrando
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*