Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and HIV infection among injection drug users in two Mexican cities bordering the U.S.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection and associated risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) in two northern Mexican cities.


METHODS
Between February and April 2005, IDUs were recruited in Tijuana (N=222) and Ciudad Juarez (N=206) using respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a chain referral sampling approach. Interviewer-administered questionnaires assessed drug-using behaviors during the prior six months. Venous blood was collected for immunoassays to detect HIV and HCV antibodies. For HIV, Western blot or immunofluorescence assay was used for confirmatory testing. Final HCV antibody prevalence was estimated using RDS adjustments.


RESULTS
Overall, HCV and HIV prevalence was 96.0% and 2.8%, respectively, and was similar in both cities. Most IDUs (87.5%) reported passing on their used injection equipment to others, and 85.9% had received used equipment from others.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV prevalence was relatively high given the prevalence of HIV in the general population, and HCV prevalence was extremely high among IDUs in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Frequent sharing practices indicate a high potential for continued transmission for both infections. HCV counseling and testing for IDUs in Mexico and interventions to reduce sharing of injection equipment are needed.
White
Emily Faye
EF
Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
Garfein
Richard S
RS
Brouwer
Kimberly C
KC
Lozada
Remedios
R
Ramos
Rebeca
R
Firestone-Cruz
Michelle
M
Pérez
Saida G
SG
Magis-Rodríguez
Carlos
C
Conde-Glez
Carlos J
CJ
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies