Hepatitis C and Substance Use in a Sample of Homeless People in New York City

This study examined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and its association with substance use and sexual behavior among a sample of 139 persons visiting a mobile medical clinic in Manhattan. Ninety percent were unstably housed or were living on the street. The prevalence of HCV ant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of addictive diseases 2001-12, Vol.20 (4), p.17-27
Main Authors: Rosenblum, Andrew, Nuttbrock, Larry, McQuistion, Hunter L., Magura, Stephen, Joseph, Herman
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
cocaine use
hair analysis
Hepatitis-C
homelessness
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Summary:This study examined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and its association with substance use and sexual behavior among a sample of 139 persons visiting a mobile medical clinic in Manhattan. Ninety percent were unstably housed or were living on the street. The prevalence of HCV antibodies was 32%. Prevalence was also high for hepatitis B core antibodies (47%), HIV antibodies (15%), and syphilis exposure (14%); 76% tested positive for cocaine. Among subjects who reported ever injecting (20%), 86% were HCV positive; 19% of non-injectors were HCV positive. In separate multivariate logistic regression models (with injection controlled), HCV was predicted by quantitative hair assays for cocaine and self-re -ported duration of crack-cocaine use. Alcohol dependence and sexual behavior did not predict HCV. Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem among the urban homeless population, with injection drug use and, to a lesser extent, cocaine use implicated as risk factors.
ISSN:1055-0887
1545-0848
DOI:10.1300/J069v20n04_03