|
|
Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
Participant will be able to:
1) Identify settings where hepatitis C counseling and testing (C&T) can be integrated.
2) Identify risk factors for hepatitis C infection in the populations tested.
Background:
From January 2002 through April 2003, eight county health departments in California received support for hepatitis C outreach, education, counseling, and testing.
Methods:
The target population was persons at high-risk for hepatitis C infection. Hepatitis C C&T services were integrated into HIV C&T services in existing public health settings.
A hepatitis C counseling information form collected demographic and risk information. Risk factors for infection were assessed with logistic regression using SAS.
Results:
Of the 3315 subjects tested, 54% were IDUs and 30% were anti-HCV positive. The proportion of clients testing positive varied by testing site: 41% in drop-in centers, 33% in primary care clinics, 28% in drug treatment facilities, 24% in mobile/outreach, 23% in HIV/STD clinics, and 22% in incarcerated settings.
The proportion of clients who received their results also varied by site: 81% in drug treatment facilities, 72% in mobile/outreach, 66% in incarcerated settings, 65% in HIV/STD clinics, 63% at drop-in centers, and 54% in primary care clinics.
We found independent associations between HCV infection and age group >40 years (vs. <30) (OR =15.9), non-professional tattoo and body piercing (vs. those who did not) (OR=2.8), and black race (vs. white) (OR =2.0).
Sharing snorting equipment modified the association of injection drug use with HCV infection. Among those who did not share snorting equipment, the OR of injection drug use was 45.5, but was only 10.5 among those who shared snorting equipment.
Conclusions:
High-risk clients for HCV can be reached by integrating HCV C&T into existing public health settings. Risk factors for HCV infection identified in this population are similar to those seen in other studies.
See more of Poster Session #1
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference