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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

John Jost, PhD, Lloyd Goldsamt, PhD, Paul Kobrak, PhD, Alexandra Harocopos, MSC, and S. Christopher Alley, BA. Institute for International Research on Youth At Risk, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd St., 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4577, jost@ndri.org

Objective: The authors examined the range of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) knowledge among a cohort (n= 35) of young (ages 16-32) injecting drug users (IDUs) whose first injection event had occurred within 18 months, focusing on overall knowledge of HCV, degree of concern in contracting HCV, and whether the risk of contracting HCV effected drug use and injection practices. Methods: Participants were members of a cohort participating in a longitudinal study examining the behaviors of new, young IDUs. All cohort members were offered HIV, Hepatitis B, and HCV testing, and were asked a series of open-ended questions regarding HCV in conjunction with pre-test counseling. Topics included: transmission, long-term effects, symptoms, prevention, treatment, degree of concern in contracting HCV, and how the risk of contracting HCV impacted drug use and injection practices. Results: Most respondents revealed minimal knowledge of HCV. They were largely unaware or misinformed regarding transmission (57%), long-term effects (63%), and treatment (72%), though most were aware that the virus is blood born (63%). Nearly all of the respondents were less concerned with contracting HCV than HIV (92%) and few reported any change in drug use or injection in relation to a risk of contracting HCV (29%). Conclusion: Respondents showed significantly little knowledge of HCV risk and prevention strategies, supporting the recommendation that HCV counseling be more broadly integrated into educational and prevention programs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Discuss the degree of Hepatitis C knowledge among new drug injectors (IDUs) and whether or not this knowledge effects drug use and injection practices among new IDUs.
• Recognize that new IDUs are largely unaware of the transmission, symptoms, and effects of Hepatitis C and are unable to identify the degree to which they are at risk.
• Identify areas of Hepatitis C knowledge that are lacking among new IDUs, describe the ways in which new IDUs view Hepatitis C, and develop a plan for addressing knowledge gaps that will help reduce risk behaviors.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Injection Drug Users

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered