title: Hepatitis C among injecting drug users is two times higher in Stockholm, Sweden than in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
abstract: This study assessed risk behavior and preventive measures for hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (452 participants, 2002-2003) and Stockholm, Sweden (310 participants, 2004-2006), two cities with contrasting drug policies. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models were used. We found that the prevalence of hepatitis C was almost two times higher in participants from Stockholm than in participants from Rotterdam, even after adjustment for sex sharing paraphernalia (adjusted relative risk: 1.92, 95% confidence interval: 1.60-2.29). Follow-up comparative studies are needed to determine if policies with structured health programs can decrease transmission of hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Addiction Centre , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Lillebil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norden
authors.forename: Maaike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lidman
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Todorov
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guarita
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kretzschmar
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiessing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology