TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with HCV test uptake in heroin users entering
substitution treatment in Greece
AU - Anagnostou, O.
AU - Fotiou, A.
AU - Kanavou, E.
AU - Antaraki, A. and
AU - Terzidou, M.
AU - Richardson, C.
AU - Kafetzopoulos, E.
AU - Drug Related
AU - Infect Dis DRID Med
JO - Neurobehavioral HIV Medicine
PY - 2018
VL - 19
TODO - 1, SI
SP - 34-39
PB - Wiley
SN - null
TODO - 10.1111/hiv.12589
TODO - Greece; hepatitis C; heroin users; testing
TODO - ObjectivesPeople who inject drugs (PWID) represent the main risk group
for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in most middle and high-income
countries. Testing PWID is considered as an important prevention
measure. Identification of PWID characteristics associated with HCV
testing may contribute to strategies targeting the containment of the
HCV and HIV epidemics in Greece.
MethodsAnonymous behavioural data from 2747 heroin users were collected
upon entry in 38 opioid substitution treatment (OST) clinics in Greece
during the period 2013-2015. HCV test uptake was the dependent variable
while covariates included sociodemographic and addiction-related
variables, mostly derived from the EMCDDA treatment demand indicator
protocol.
ResultsAmong 2299 cases with complete data on HCV testing, 83.5%
reported any HCV testing uptake, with 61.2% reporting a recent test
(<12months). In the multivariate analyses, any previous HCV testing
uptake was associated with age 25years, past drug treatment attempt,
injecting or sniffing the primary substance, injection history 5years,
and syringe sharing earlier than the past 12months. Past HCV test uptake
was higher among those reporting full-time employment and 2-4years
injecting histories, and lower among residents of Athens. Recent testing
was positively associated with female gender and polysubstance use.
ConclusionAny previous HCV testing uptake is high among PWID entering
OST in Greece and is associated with older age, longer injecting
histories and past drug-related treatment attempts. Efforts to prevent
and mitigate the ongoing HCV test epidemic among PWID in Greece should
combine treatment with scaling up of screening, targeting especially
those younger than 25years and at the beginning of their hazardous use.
ER -