The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70526

Mary Latka, PhD¹, Holly Hagan, PhD², Farzana Kapadia, MPH¹, Elizabeth T. Golub, PhD³, and Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD⁴. (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-822-7284, mlatka@nyam.org, (2) NDRI, 71 West 23rd, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, (3) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, 627 N. Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

Background: HCV-positive CIDUS-III/DUIT participants in Baltimore, New York and Seattle were enrolled in a trial to test an intervention to prevent secondary HCV transmission and facilitate HCV treatment uptake. Objective: To identify correlates of having a stable health-care provider (defined as having seen the same provider for >2 years). Methods: Eligible subjects are aged 18-35 years, HIV-negative IDUs who have injected drugs <6 months ago. Logistic regression was used to determine variables associated with stable health care. Results: Of 208 IDUs enrolled to date, 76% were male, 63% White, 59% uninsured, 81% ever incarcerated, and 52% considered themselves homeless in the six-months prior. One third (32%) reported a “regular provider” but only 17% had a stable provider. In the six-months prior, 50% had been to the emergency room; 28% had made and kept appointments for primary care. Those with a stable provider were more likely to be female (p=0.0004) and less likely to be homeless (p=0.02), ever incarcerated (p=0.01) or to have insurance (p=0.03). Those with a stable provider were also more likely to have followed-up for care after their hepatitis C diagnosis and to have made and kept doctor appointments in the six-months prior. Conclusions: Many HCV-infected IDUs use medical services, yet only a small proportion of those in more stable living situations experience continuity in their health care. Future analyses will assess whether the STRIVE intervention successfully links HCV-infected IDUs to care.

Learning Objectives:

• To inform the audience about the unmet primary health care needs of injection drug users infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Primary Care

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.