title: Hepatitis C infection among drug users in northern Thailand.
abstract: Illicit drug users are commonly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We evaluated the prevalence, incidence, and risk behaviors associated with HCV infection in 1,859 drug users in northern Thailand. The HCV prevalence was 27.3%: 86.0% among drug injectors (IDUs) and 5.3% among those who did not inject. Sexual behavior was not significantly associated with HCV among IDUs or drug users who used but didn't inject illicit drugs; only injection behaviors were independently associated with HCV in multivariate analysis. Among men, a history and increasing frequency of injecting drugs, older age, and a history of incarceration were associated with HCV infection. Among 514 opiate users who were HCV and HIV seronegative at baseline, 41 incident HCV infections and 6 HIV infections occurred on follow-up; the HCV incidence was 5.43/100 person-years; it was 44.3/100 person-years in IDUs and 1.9/100 person-years in non-injectors. HCV and HIV among drug users in Thailand are common and primarily associated with injection behavior.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jaroon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jittiwutikarn
authors.forename: Satawat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thongsawat
authors.forename: Vinai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suriyanon
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneekarn
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: Myat Htoo
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Razak
authors.forename: Namtip
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srirak
authors.forename: Tassanai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vongchak
authors.forename: Surinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawichai
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Teerada
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sripaipan
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Netski
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ananthakrishnan
authors.forename: Kenrad E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology