 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Lillian Gelberg, MD, MSPH1, Marjorie Robertson, PhD2, Lisa Arangua, MPP1, Ronald M. Andersen, PhD3, Barbara Leake, PhD1, and Hal Morgenstern, PhD4. (1) Department of Family Medicine, UCLA, 50-071 Center for Health Sciences, Box 951683, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1683, (310) 794-6092, lgelberg@mednet.ucla.edu, (2) Alcohol Research Group-Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, (3) Department of Health Services, UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Room 31-254A CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1006, (4) Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772
Persons infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at high risk for serious long-term health problems, and they are potentially infectious to others. NIH’s national agenda for preventing the spread and consequences of hepatitis C includes early detection, treatment, and prevention efforts for high-risk and infected persons. Recent research by our team and others suggests that homeless adults in urban areas are at particularly high risk for HCV infection due to their high rates of risky drug use. Despite their apparent high risk, however, there are no population–based studies of hepatitis C in this group. For emerging infectious diseases, protecting the health of the community as a whole will depend on protecting the health of those most at risk. The objective of this study was to document the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C infection among homeless adults, and to identify high-risk sub-groups that should be targeted for screening and subsequent treatment or prevention efforts. We conducted a community-based probability survey of 500 homeless adults in all of the shelters and meal programs in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, using a 2-hour face-to-face interview and blood testing for HCV. In this paper, we will present preliminary findings on rates and correlates of HCV infection, and we will identify groups with relatively high prevalence of HCV. The findings from this study will be used to inform clinicians, health planners, and health policymakers regarding HCV screening, prevention, and treatment for homeless persons.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: , Homelessness
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.