Low knowledge and perceived Hepatitis C risk despite high risk behaviour among injection drug users in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract Background In Nepal, prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs) has been measured at 50% and knowledge of the virus is low. Rehabilitation and harm reduction attendees constitute populations to whom health care providers can deliver services. As such, characterizing t...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The International journal of drug policy Vol. 33; pp. 75 - 82
Main Authors:	Loewinger, Gabriel, Sharma, Bishnu, Karki, Deepak Kumar, Khatiwoda, Prasana, Kainee, Sher, Poudel, Krishna C
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-07-2016 Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects:	Addiction Adolescent Adult Alcohol Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology Cross-Sectional Studies Drinking behavior Drug abuse Drug addiction Drug policy Drug use Harm reduction Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health services Hepatitis Hepatitis C Hepatitis C - epidemiology Hepatitis C risk Hepatitis C virus High risk Humans Infections Injecting drug use Internal Medicine Interviews as Topic Intravenous drug addiction Intravenous drug addicts Knowledge Male Medical Education Medical personnel Middle Aged Needle exchange centres Needle exchange programs Nepal Nepal - epidemiology Outreach programs Prevalence Profiles Rehabilitation Residential care Residential drug rehabilitation Respondents Risk Risk behavior Risk perception Risk-Taking Social services delivery South Asia Structured interviews Substance Abuse Treatment Centers Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology Substance Abuse, Intravenous - rehabilitation Surveys and Questionnaires Treatment programs Viruses Young Adult Kathmandu Nepal Nepal Needle exchange centres Hepatitis C risk Addiction Harm reduction Residential drug rehabilitation Injecting drug use Nepal South Asia
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Abstract Background In Nepal, prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs) has been measured at 50% and knowledge of the virus is low. Rehabilitation and harm reduction attendees constitute populations to whom health care providers can deliver services. As such, characterizing their drug use and risk profiles is important for developing targeted service delivery. We measured drug use and risk patterns of IDUs participating in residential rehabilitation as well as those contacted through needle exchanges to identify correlates of drug use frequency, risky injection practices as well as HCV testing, knowledge and perceived risk. Methods We collected cross-sectional data from one-on-one structured interviews of IDUs contacted through needle-exchange outreach workers ( n = 202) and those attending rehabilitation centres (behaviour immediately prior to joining rehabilitation) ( n = 167). Results Roughly half of participants reported injecting at least 30 times in the past 30 days and individuals with previous residential rehabilitation experience reported frequent injection far more than those without it. About one in fourteen respondents reported past week risky injection practices. Participants were over three times as likely to report risky injection if they consumed alcohol daily (17.2%) than if they did not (5.0%) ( p = 0.002). Those who reported injecting daily reported risky injection practices (11.9%) significantly more than non-daily injectors (1.8%) ( p < 0.001). Respondents reported high HCV infection rates, low perceived risk, testing history and knowledge. HCV knowledge was not associated with differences in risky injecting. Conclusion Treatment centres should highlight the link between heavy drinking, frequent injection and risky injecting practices. The link between rehabilitation attendance and frequent injection may suggest IDUs with more severe use patterns are more likely to attend rehabilitation. Rehabilitation centres and needle exchanges should provide testing and education for HCV. Education alone may not be sufficient to initiate change since knowledge did not predict lower risk.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0955-3959 1873-4758
DOI:	10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.05.005