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Learning Objective:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:
1. Identify limitations to HCV prevention models for injection drug users based solely on access to sterile syringes and injection equipment.
2. Describe additional HCV prevention intervention components, including social networks, social marketing, and serostatus.
3. Identify challenges and opportunities for developing comprehensive approaches to HCV prevention integrating these components.
Background:
Research on HCV prevention among injection drug users (IDUs) in the United States and internationally suggests that expansion of access to sterile needles and injection equipment has, at best, only partially reduced the incidence of HCV infection among injectors. Needle exchange programs provide a valuable range of education and services, but are limited in number and scale. Other forms of syringe access, including pharmacy sale, may reach more IDUs but provide limited opportunities for education and engagement. As a result, current structural and community-level interventions to increase access to sterile syringes provide a necessary foundation but not a comprehensive approach to HCV prevention.
Setting:
N/A
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
IDU
Project Description:
This presentation will define and describe new components for a comprehensive approach to HCV prevention, building on interventions to provide access to sterile syringes:
1. Working with social networks of IDUs
2. Social marketing of HCV prevention
3. Serostatus approaches to promoting HCV prevention
Results/Lessons Learned:
Hepatitis C prevention for IDUs requires a comprehensive approach addressing not only syringe access but also social networks, social marketing, and serostatus. The introduction of these comprehensive approaches to complement initiatives focused on syringe access will require new skills, resources, and strategies for evaluation.
Web Page: www.hepcproject.org
See more of Poster Session #2
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference