title: Seroprevalence of select bloodborne pathogens and associated risk behaviors among injection drug users in the Paso del Norte region of the United States-Mexico border.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The region situated where the borders of Mexico, Texas and New Mexico meet is known as 'Paso del Norte'. The Paso del Norte Collaborative was formed to study the seroprevalence of select pathogens and associated risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) in the region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used: 459 IDU participants included 204 from Mexico; 155 from Texas; and 100 from New Mexico. Each of the three sites used a standardized questionnaire that was verbally administered and testing was performed for select bloodborne infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were mostly male (87.4%) and Hispanic/Latino (84.7%) whose median age was 38. In Mexico, Texas and New Mexico, respectively: hepatitis B virus (HBV) was seen in 88.3%, 48.6% and 59.6% of participants; hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 98.7%, 76.4% and 80.0%; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2.1%, 10.0% and 1.0%; and syphilis in 4.0%, 9.9% and 3.0%. Heroin was the drug injected most often. More IDUs in New Mexico were aware of and used needle exchange programs compared with Texas and Mexico.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was mixed success using RDS: it was more successfully applied after establishing good working relationships with IDU populations. Study findings included similarities and distinctions between the three sites that will be used to inform prevention interventions.
authors.affiliation: New Mexico Department of Health, Santa Fe, NM, USA. joan.baumbach@state.nm.us
authors.forename: Joan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baumbach
authors.forename: Lily N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Michelle Firestone
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arbona
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee