TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C among in jection drug users
T2 - The significance of duration of use, incarceration, and race/ ethnicity
AU - Latimer, William W.
AU - Hedden, Sarra L.
AU - Moleko, Anne Gloria
AU - Floyd, Leah
AU - Lawson, April
AU - Melnikov, Alexander
AU - Severtson, S. Geoffrey
AU - Cole, Kristin
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The study examined associations between hepatitis C (HCV) seropositivity and a lifetime history of jail or correctional facility incarceration among injection drug users. The sample consisted of 351 injection drug users recruited in inner-city neighborhoods of Baltimore. Multiple logistic regressions were fit to assess associations between HCV seropositivity and a lifetime history of incarceration for the total sample and stratified by race. Analyses demonstrated HCV nearly two times greater for whites than African Americans. In addition, HCV was 2.6 times greater in participants incarcerated in correctional facilities and HCV was 7.4 times greater in participants reporting more than 5 years of injection drug use compared to participants reporting less than 1 year of injection drug use. The study findings suggest that incorporating systematic HCV screening, prevention, and treatment programs within correctional systems represents a vital yet under-utilized strategy to reduce HCV transmission in society as a whole.
AB - The study examined associations between hepatitis C (HCV) seropositivity and a lifetime history of jail or correctional facility incarceration among injection drug users. The sample consisted of 351 injection drug users recruited in inner-city neighborhoods of Baltimore. Multiple logistic regressions were fit to assess associations between HCV seropositivity and a lifetime history of incarceration for the total sample and stratified by race. Analyses demonstrated HCV nearly two times greater for whites than African Americans. In addition, HCV was 2.6 times greater in participants incarcerated in correctional facilities and HCV was 7.4 times greater in participants reporting more than 5 years of injection drug use compared to participants reporting less than 1 year of injection drug use. The study findings suggest that incorporating systematic HCV screening, prevention, and treatment programs within correctional systems represents a vital yet under-utilized strategy to reduce HCV transmission in society as a whole.
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U2 - 10.1177/002204260903900406
DO - 10.1177/002204260903900406
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77649171222
SN - 0022-0426
VL - 39
SP - 893
EP - 904
JO - Journal of Drug Issues
JF - Journal of Drug Issues
IS - 4
ER -