The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46963

Caroline Bailey, MA¹, Ann O'Leary, PhD¹, David Purcell, JD, PhD¹, Cynthia Gomez, PhD², and Perry Halkitis, PhD³. (1) BIRB, DHAP, NCHSTP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road (E-37), Atlanta, GA 30333, 404 639-1900, zsi7@cdc.gov, (2) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105, (3) Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training, 250 West 26th St., 3rd Floor, New York City, NY 10001

Many people infected with HIV are also at risk for co-infection with hepatitis C, a viral infection spread by blood-blood contact. We assessed the HCV-related behaviors and risk perceptions of HIV-seropositive (HIV+) MSM (N=1,163) recruited from community venues in New York and San Francisco. Self-reported data including beliefs concerning risk for HCV and whether participants had been tested were collected using audio-computer assisted self-interviews. The mean age of participants was 41, (SD=7.9), and they were primarily White (48%), African American (28%), or Hispanic (17%). 50% of the participants thought they were at risk for HCV, 64% (N=746) reported being tested, and 14% (N=168) of these reported a positive test result. Lifetime rate of injection drug use was 20%, and 6% reported borrowing or lending needles in the past three months. 53% (N=86) of those who reported testing positive for HCV reported never having injected non-prescription drugs. Those who perceived they were at risk were more likely to be tested (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.04 to 1.86). Behaviors associated with perceived risk of HCV were a history of having injected non-prescription drugs (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.2 to 2.3) and unprotected anal insertive sex (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.08 to 1.81). This study illustrates high rates of perceived risk for HCV as well as actual risk for HCV infection among HIV+ MSM, suggesting the importance of HCV prevention when designing interventions for this population.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify important risk factors for the transmission of HCV
• Discuss the importance of integrating HCV prevention in HIV interventions for people at risk
• Apply the lessons learned in the development of HIV/STI interventions

Keywords: Gay Men, Hepatitis C

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.