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Exploring associations between perceived HCV status and injecting risk behaviors among recent initiates to injecting drug use in Glasgow

  • Sarah Wadd
    ,
  • Norah Palmateer
    ,
  • Niall Anderson
    ,
  • Sharon Hutchinson
    ,
  • Avril Taylor
    ,
  • David Goldberg
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and perceived HCV status on injecting risk behavior. A cross-sectional, community-wide survey was undertaken at multiple sites throughout Greater Glasgow during 2001-2002. Four hundred ninety-seven injecting drug users (IDUs) consented to participate and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to ascertain HCV test history and injecting risk behavior. The average age of participants was 27 years and the majority of the sample were male (70.4%). Participants had been injecting for an average duration of 2.5 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed no significant associations between having been tested and injecting risk behavior. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, HCV-negatives were significantly less likely to borrow needles/syringes and spoons or filters as compared with unawares and were significantly less likely to borrow spoons or filters as compared with HCV-positives. Due to the cross-sectional design of the study, it is uncertain whether this reduction in risk behavior could be attributed to perception of HCV status. Further research is recommended to consolidate the evidence for this relationship.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 375-388

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Substance Use and Misuse (Volume 43, Issue 3-4)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/01/2008

Publication status

Published - 01/01/2008

ISSN

1082-6084

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/250851
  • Scopus: 41349083177

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