Prevalence of HCV infection and associated factors among illicit drug users in Breves, State of Pará, northern Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Suzy Danielly Barbosa Pacheco, Gláucia Caroline Silva-Oliveira, Luciana Maria Cunha Maradei-Pereira, José Ângelo Barletta Crescente, José Alexandre Rodrigues de Lemos, Aldemir Branco de Oliveira-Filho
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: Hepatitis C virus; Illicit drug users; Northern Brazil; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0153-2013; https://doaj.org/article/08c3a9697a504874a9f4c22c09271482

Introduction: Illicit drug users (DUs) are vulnerable to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The shared use of illicit drugs is the main method of HCV transmission. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Breves, in northern Brazil. We surveyed 187 DUs to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with HCV infection. Results: The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 36.9%, and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) was 31%. Hepatitis C virus infection was associated with tattoos, intravenous drug use, shared use of equipment for drug use, drug use for longer than 3 years, and daily drug use. Conclusions: Strategies for preventing and controlling HCV transmission should be implemented among DUs.