HIV and HCV testing for young drug users in Rhode Island.
Young injection drug users (IDU) are at risk for both human immunonodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C infections (HCV). Rates of HIV testing have been widely documented, but limited information exists regarding HCV screening rates. Among a community sample of 86 IDUs, aged 18-25 years in Rhode Island, 87.2% reported ever testing for HIV versus 51.2% for HCV (p < .001). Young injectors were under-screened for HCV compared with the far less prevalent HIV infection.
Pugatch
David
D
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. dpugatch@lifespan.org
Anderson
Bradley J
BJ
O'Connell
Janet V
JV
Elson
Laura C
LC
Stein
Michael D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012237:Rhode Island; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*