OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of four blood-borne viral infections among illicit drug injectors with up to 6 years of injecting experience. METHODS: We analyzed data from 716 volunteers recruited in 1988 and 1989. Test results for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV), and human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV) were examined across six sequential cohorts defined by duration of drug injection. RESULTS: Overall, seroprevalence of HCV, HBV, HIV, and HTLV was 76.9%, 65.7%, 20.5% and 1.8%, respectively, and 64.7%, 49.8%, 13.9%, and 0.5%, respectively, among those who had injected for 1 year or less. Among the newest initiates, HCV and HBV were associated with injecting variables, and HIV was associated with sexual variables. CONCLUSIONS: The high rates of HCV, HBV, and HIV infections among short-term injectors emphasizes the need to target both parenteral and sexual risk reduction interventions early. Renewed efforts at primary prevention of substance abuse are indicated.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of four blood-borne viral infections among illicit drug injectors with up to 6 years of injecting experience. METHODS: We analyzed data from 716 volunteers recruited in 1988 and 1989. Test results for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV), and human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV) were examined across six sequential cohorts defined by duration of drug injection. RESULTS: Overall, seroprevalence of HCV, HBV, HIV, and HTLV was 76.9%, 65.7%, 20.5% and 1.8%, respectively, and 64.7%, 49.8%, 13.9%, and 0.5%, respectively, among those who had injected for 1 year or less. Among the newest initiates, HCV and HBV were associated with injecting variables, and HIV was associated with sexual variables. CONCLUSIONS: The high rates of HCV, HBV, and HIV infections among short-term injectors emphasizes the need to target both parenteral and sexual risk reduction interventions early. Renewed efforts at primary prevention of substance abuse are indicated.
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Authors: S R Friedman; D C Des Jarlais; A Neaigus; A Abdul-Quader; J L Sotheran; M Sufian; S Tross; D Goldsmith Journal: Nature Date: 1989-06-01 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: M Robert-Guroff; S H Weiss; J A Giron; A M Jennings; H M Ginzburg; I B Margolis; W A Blattner; R C Gallo Journal: JAMA Date: 1986-06-13 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: V D Hope; A Judd; M Hickman; T Lamagni; G Hunter; G V Stimson; S Jones; L Donovan; J V Parry; O N Gill Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2001-01 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Paula J Lum; Kristen C Ochoa; Judith A Hahn; Kimberly Page Shafer; Jennifer L Evans; Andrew R Moss Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 9.308