title: HCV and HIV infection and co-infection: injecting drug use and sexual behavior, AjUDE-Brasil I Project.
abstract: This study aimed to characterize sexual and drug-use behaviors in injecting drug users (IDUs) in relation to single hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and HCV/HIV co-infection. The sample consisted of 272 IDUs enrolled in the AjUDE-Brasil I Project, a cross-sectional multi-center study conducted in five Brazilian cities in 1998. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire using self-reported risk behavior, and HCV and HIV serological status used ELISA on filter paper. IDUs were clustered in four distinct groups: HCV/HIV seronegative; HCV mono-infected; HIV mono-infected; and HCV/HIV co-infected. Active sharing of injecting equipment was associated with HCV infection (p = 0.001). Sexual behavior variables, especially male same-sex sexual relations, were consistently associated with HIV infection. HCV/HIV co-infection was associated with both sexual and drug use variables. It was possible to distinguish different behavioral indicators for HCV and HIV infection and co-infection in this population.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Keli Bahia Felicíssimo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Zocratto
authors.forename: Waleska Teixeira
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Caiaffa
authors.forename: Fernando Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Anna Bárbara
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carneiro-Proietti
authors.forename: Sueli Aparecida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mingoti
authors.forename: Geraldo José Coelho
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology