Association of sex, hygiene and drug equipment sharing with hepatitis C virus infection among non-injecting drug users in New York City.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) rates are higher in non-injecting drug users (NIDUs) than general population estimates. Whether this elevated HCV rate is due to drug use or other putative risk behaviors remains unclear.


METHODS
Recent non-injection drug users of heroin, crack and/or cocaine were street-recruited from 2000 to 2003 and underwent an interview and venipuncture for HCV antibody assays. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess correlates for HCV infection.


RESULTS
Of 740 enrollees, 3.9% were HCV positive. The median age (intraquartile range) was 30 (35-24) years, 70% were male and 90% were Black or Hispanic. After adjustment, HCV seropositives were significantly more likely than seronegatives to be older than 30 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=5.71], tattooed by a friend/relative/acquaintance [AOR=3.61] and know someone with HCV [AOR=4.29], but were less likely to have shared nail or hair clippers, razors or a toothbrush [AOR=0.32].


CONCLUSIONS
Non-commercial tattooing may be a mode of HCV transmission among NIDUs and education on the potential risk in using non-sterile tattooing equipment should be targeted toward this population. While no evidence was found for HCV transmission through NIDU equipment sharing or sexual risk behavior, further research is still warranted.
Howe
Chanelle J
CJ
Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Fuller
Crystal M
CM
Ompad
Danielle C
DC
Galea
Sandro
S
Koblin
Beryl
B
Thomas
David
D
Vlahov
David
D
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels