HIV, HBC, HCV prevalence in drug users similar in rural and inner-city areas

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HIV, HBC, HCV prevalence in drug users similar in rural and inner-city areas

15th January, 2001

J Public Health Med 2001;22:531-539

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) - In a rural population of drug users,

prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B and C infections are as high as those

reported in inner cities, according to the results of a British study.

Dr. Edeh, of St. 's Hospital Medical School, in London, and

Pamela Spaulding, of the Princess Royal Hospital, in Haywards Heath,

interviewed 102 adult subjects with " problematic self-reported drug use " who

were residing in southeast England.

Of the patients tested, 20.4% and 55.8% were seropositive for hepatitis B

and hepatitis C, respectively, the investigators report in the January issue

of the Journal of Public Health Medicine. One of the 27 subjects who

consented to HIV antibody testing was seropositive.

Patients who were seropositive for hepatitis were significantly older and

had an earlier onset and longer duration of opioid use than those who were

seronegative. Indirect sharing of injecting drug equipment, which involved

cooking equipment and frontloading rituals, was significantly associated

with hepatitis seropositivity.

Dr. Edeh and Spaulding note that, although hepatitis B vaccination has been

recommended for injecting drug users since 1985, only eight subjects had

been so vaccinated. Furthermore, only seven subjects reported contact with

medical outpatient clinics.

" Services for drug users require urgent appraisal, " note the authors. " The

provision of on-site phlebotomy facility for routine screening for

blood-borne viral infections and offer of hepatitis B vaccination as an

integral part of drug misuse treatment services would be a significant step

forward, " they conclude.