PMID: 9539916Apr 16, 1998Paper

Injecting behaviours and prevalence of hepatitis B, C and D markers in New Zealand injecting drug user populations

The New Zealand Medical Journal
R KempM Baker

Abstract

To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) & hepatitis D virus (HDV) markers of infection among injecting drug user populations in New Zealand and to examine the relationship between demographic features, risk behaviours and infection. A total of 323 current injecting drug users completed a questionnaire that explored their needle and syringe using behaviours. Information was collected on injection pattern, sharing behaviours and methods of cleaning needles and syringes. Two hundred and forty-one respondents gave blood samples which were tested for hepatitis B, C and D markers. Over half the respondents (59%) were male and 41% were female. Most (89%) identified as European. Sixty-four percent were anti-HCV positive. The likelihood of infection increased with age and duration of injecting. Forty-one percent (33/81) of those aged 25 or under, sixty-four percent (45/70) of those aged 26-30 and eighty-seven percent (78/90) over 30 were anti-HCV positive. Those who tested anti-HCV positive had been injecting for an average of 12.0 years compared to 6.0 years for those were anti-HCV negative. The results for hepatitis B are to be reported fully at a later date. Sharing behaviour was also a fac...Continue Reading

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