title: Prevalence of HCV infection and associated factors among illicit drug users in Breves, State of Pará, northern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Illicit drug users (DUs) are vulnerable to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The shared use of illicit drugs is the main method of HCV transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Breves, in northern Brazil. We surveyed 187 DUs to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with HCV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 36.9%, and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) was 31%. Hepatitis C virus infection was associated with tattoos, intravenous drug use, shared use of equipment for drug use, drug use for longer than 3 years, and daily drug use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies for preventing and controlling HCV transmission should be implemented among DUs.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Breves, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzy Danielly Barbosa
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Breves, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gláucia Caroline
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Silva-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Maria Cunha
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Maradei-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Ângelo Barletta
authors.initials: JÂ
authors.lastname: Crescente
authors.affiliation: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Alexandre Rodrigues de
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aldemir Branco de
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012367:RNA, Viral