OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence, distribution and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among homeless adults using eight Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) clinics nationally. METHODS: Data were collected for 387 participants through blood draws, structured interviews, chart reviews. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of HCV-antibody positivity was 31.0%, including 70.0% among injection drug users and 15.5% among reported non-injectors. Much HCV infection was hidden as the majority (53.3%) of HCV-antibody positive participants was unaware of their status. Independent risk factors for HCV among the total sample included injection drug use, prison, and tattoos; among injectors, risk factors included prison and three or more years of injection drug use; among reported non-injectors, risk factors included tattoos and prison. CONCLUSION: These HCH clinics serve high concentrations of HCV-infected injectors, making these and similar clinics priority intervention sites for aggressive screening, education, testing, and treatment for HCV and other blood-borne diseases.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence, distribution and risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among homeless adults using eight Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) clinics nationally. METHODS: Data were collected for 387 participants through blood draws, structured interviews, chart reviews. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of HCV-antibody positivity was 31.0%, including 70.0% among injection drug users and 15.5% among reported non-injectors. Much HCV infection was hidden as the majority (53.3%) of HCV-antibody positive participants was unaware of their status. Independent risk factors for HCV among the total sample included injection drug use, prison, and tattoos; among injectors, risk factors included prison and three or more years of injection drug use; among reported non-injectors, risk factors included tattoos and prison. CONCLUSION: These HCH clinics serve high concentrations of HCV-infected injectors, making these and similar clinics priority intervention sites for aggressive screening, education, testing, and treatment for HCV and other blood-borne diseases.
Authors: Kathleen B Schwarz; Beth Garrett; Miriam J Alter; Douglas Thompson; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2008-05
Authors: Arlene C Seña; Sarah J Willis; Alison Hilton; Alexandria Anderson; David A Wohl; Christopher B Hurt; Andrew J Muir Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2016 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Travis P Baggett; Yuchiao Chang; Bianca C Porneala; Monica Bharel; Daniel E Singer; Nancy A Rigotti Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2015-07-03 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Lillian Gelberg; Marjorie J Robertson; Lisa Arangua; Barbara D Leake; Gerald Sumner; Ardis Moe; Ronald M Andersen; Hal Morgenstern; Adeline Nyamathi Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2012 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Carmen L Masson; Kevin L Delucchi; Courtney McKnight; Jennifer Hettema; Mandana Khalili; Albert Min; Ashly E Jordan; Nicole Pepper; Jessica Hall; Nicholas S Hengl; Christopher Young; Michael S Shopshire; Jennifer K Manuel; Lara Coffin; Hali Hammer; Bradley Shapiro; Randy M Seewald; Henry C Bodenheimer; James L Sorensen; Don C Des Jarlais; David C Perlman Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-08-15 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Amanda J Noska; Pamela S Belperio; Timothy P Loomis; Thomas P O'Toole; Lisa I Backus Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2017-07-15 Impact factor: 9.079