Work

Estimating the variability in the risk of infection for hepatitis C in the Glasgow injecting drug user population

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Glasgow (Scotland's largest city) has a high prevalence of injecting drug use and has one of the highest prevalences of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in injecting drug users (IDUs) in Western Europe. HCV prevalence data from surveys of Glasgow's IDUs from 1990 to 2007 were utilized and a model was applied that described the prevalence of HCV as a function of the rate (force) of infection. Force-of-infection estimates for HCV that may vary over time and injecting career length over a range of variables were investigated. New initiates to injecting were found to be at increased risk of HCV infection, with being recruited from a street location and reporting injecting in prison leading to a significant increase in the risk of infection in new initiates. These results indicate areas of importance for the planning of public health measures that target the IDU population.

Source: Epidemiology and Infection

DOI: 10.1017/s0950268812000489

Authors: A. J. SUTTON, S. A. McDONALD, N. PALMATEER, A. TAYLOR, S. J. HUTCHINSON

Institutions: University of Birmingham, University of Strathclyde, Health Protection Scotland, University of the West of Scotland

Language: English

Topic: Hepatitis C virus research

Subfield: Hepatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Scottish Government