Abstract
Background: Blood contained in needles and injection equipment has been identified as a vector for HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). Yet, there is often a wide discrepancy in prevalence for both viruses. While microbiological differences between viruses influence prevalence, other variables associated with the way drugs are acquired and used, also play a role. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methods recruited a sample of 315 current intravenous drug users in rural Puerto Rico. Information about type and frequency of use, HIV and HVC risk behaviors (sharing needles, cookers, cotton, and water), sexual behaviors, and alcohol use was collected. HIV and HCV statuses were assessed via rapid antibody tests. T tests compare means of participants who tested positive (reactive) to those who tested negative. Logistic regression analyses were used to validate the association of the risk factors involved. Results: Tests showed a significant difference in HIV (6 %) and HCV (78.4 %) prevalence among a population of current PWID. The main risk behaviors in HCV transmission are the sharing of injection "works", (e.g., cookers, cotton, and water). Sharing works occurred more than twice as often as the sharing of needles, and HCV+ and HCV- individuals reported the same needle sharing habits. Conclusions: Washing and rinsing injection works with water seems to prevent HIV transmission, but it is unable to prevent HCV infection. While education about the need to clean injection equipment with bleach might be beneficial, equipment sharing-and the subsequent risk of HVC-might be unavoidable in a context where participants are forced to pool resources to acquire and use intravenous drugs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 10 |
| Journal | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 8 2016 |
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Keywords
- HIV-HCV risk factors
- Injection equipment
- PWID
- Rural Puerto Rico
- Sharing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Understanding differences in HIV/HCV prevalence according to differentiated risk behaviors in a sample of PWID in rural Puerto Rico. / Abadie, Roberto; Welch-Lazoritz, Melissa; Gelpi-Acosta, Camila; Reyes, Juan Carlos; Dombrowski, Kirk.
In: Harm Reduction Journal, Vol. 13, No. 1, 10, 08.03.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding differences in HIV/HCV prevalence according to differentiated risk behaviors in a sample of PWID in rural Puerto Rico
AU - Abadie, Roberto
AU - Welch-Lazoritz, Melissa
AU - Gelpi-Acosta, Camila
AU - Reyes, Juan Carlos
AU - Dombrowski, Kirk
PY - 2016/3/8
Y1 - 2016/3/8
N2 - Background: Blood contained in needles and injection equipment has been identified as a vector for HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). Yet, there is often a wide discrepancy in prevalence for both viruses. While microbiological differences between viruses influence prevalence, other variables associated with the way drugs are acquired and used, also play a role. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methods recruited a sample of 315 current intravenous drug users in rural Puerto Rico. Information about type and frequency of use, HIV and HVC risk behaviors (sharing needles, cookers, cotton, and water), sexual behaviors, and alcohol use was collected. HIV and HCV statuses were assessed via rapid antibody tests. T tests compare means of participants who tested positive (reactive) to those who tested negative. Logistic regression analyses were used to validate the association of the risk factors involved. Results: Tests showed a significant difference in HIV (6 %) and HCV (78.4 %) prevalence among a population of current PWID. The main risk behaviors in HCV transmission are the sharing of injection "works", (e.g., cookers, cotton, and water). Sharing works occurred more than twice as often as the sharing of needles, and HCV+ and HCV- individuals reported the same needle sharing habits. Conclusions: Washing and rinsing injection works with water seems to prevent HIV transmission, but it is unable to prevent HCV infection. While education about the need to clean injection equipment with bleach might be beneficial, equipment sharing-and the subsequent risk of HVC-might be unavoidable in a context where participants are forced to pool resources to acquire and use intravenous drugs.
AB - Background: Blood contained in needles and injection equipment has been identified as a vector for HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). Yet, there is often a wide discrepancy in prevalence for both viruses. While microbiological differences between viruses influence prevalence, other variables associated with the way drugs are acquired and used, also play a role. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methods recruited a sample of 315 current intravenous drug users in rural Puerto Rico. Information about type and frequency of use, HIV and HVC risk behaviors (sharing needles, cookers, cotton, and water), sexual behaviors, and alcohol use was collected. HIV and HCV statuses were assessed via rapid antibody tests. T tests compare means of participants who tested positive (reactive) to those who tested negative. Logistic regression analyses were used to validate the association of the risk factors involved. Results: Tests showed a significant difference in HIV (6 %) and HCV (78.4 %) prevalence among a population of current PWID. The main risk behaviors in HCV transmission are the sharing of injection "works", (e.g., cookers, cotton, and water). Sharing works occurred more than twice as often as the sharing of needles, and HCV+ and HCV- individuals reported the same needle sharing habits. Conclusions: Washing and rinsing injection works with water seems to prevent HIV transmission, but it is unable to prevent HCV infection. While education about the need to clean injection equipment with bleach might be beneficial, equipment sharing-and the subsequent risk of HVC-might be unavoidable in a context where participants are forced to pool resources to acquire and use intravenous drugs.
KW - HIV-HCV risk factors
KW - Injection equipment
KW - PWID
KW - Rural Puerto Rico
KW - Sharing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84960120861&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84960120861&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12954-016-0099-9
DO - 10.1186/s12954-016-0099-9
M3 - Article
VL - 13
JO - Harm Reduction Journal
JF - Harm Reduction Journal
SN - 1477-7517
IS - 1
M1 - 10
ER -