Sexual risk for hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus-negative heroin and cocaine users

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly prevalent, often co-occuring infections among drug users. We examined HBV prevalence and risk behaviour patterns among a group of HCV-negative heroin and/or cocaine users in order to understand HBV risk and prevention opportunities among...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2006-06, Vol.134 (3), p.478-484
Main Authors: RICH, J. D., ANDERSON, B. J., SCHWARTZAPFEL, B., STEIN, M. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibodies
Biological and medical sciences
Cocaine
Cocaine-Related Disorders - complications
Drug use
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B - etiology
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C virus
Heroin
Heroin Dependence - complications
HIV
Hospitals
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunization
Infections
Infectious diseases
Injections
Internal medicine
Logistic Models
Male
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Middle Aged
Prevention
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Unsafe sex
Vaccination
Viral diseases
Viral hepatitis
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly prevalent, often co-occuring infections among drug users. We examined HBV prevalence and risk behaviour patterns among a group of HCV-negative heroin and/or cocaine users in order to understand HBV risk and prevention opportunities among this unique group. Of 164 people enrolled, 44% had injected drugs. Overall, 24% of participants tested positive for exposure to HBV; drug injectors (28%) were only slightly and not significantly (P=0·287) more likely to test positive than those who had never injected drugs (21%). HBV exposure was significantly associated with multiple indicators of greater sex risk. HBV status was not associated with any demographic characteristic, but participants who reported longer duration of cocaine use were significantly less likely to test positive to exposure for HBV. It appears that HBV risk among HCV-negative drug users in this cohort is primarily due to sexual behaviour.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268805005248