Attitudes towards Hepatitis C and Treatment Willingness in Injection Drug Users: A Follow-up Interview Study

Disa Dahlman Maria Fornvik

doi:10.4172/2329-6488.1000217

Abstract

Many injection drug users are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), yet few are treated. With opiate maintenance treatment, expected life length increases, and the incitement increases to treat HCV in order to avoid long term complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes towards HCV and HCV treatment willingness among opiate-dependent injection drug users at Malmo needle exchange program, through interviews just before entering opiate maintenance treatment and after 6 months in opiate maintenance treatment. Heroin-dependent injection drug users were recruited from Malmo needle exchange program October 2011 – April 2013. They had a structured baseline interview (N=83), led by social workers. After 6 months, all patients who successfully entered opiate maintenance treatment and were still enrolled (N=56) had a follow-up interview. Correlations with treatment willingness were calculated using Pearson’s Chi-Square test. Change over time was determined by McNemar Test. A majority at both baseline and follow-up wanted more information about HCV, but HCV-positive subjects did not feel affected by their HCV status. No significant change in treatment willingness was found after 6 month in opiate maintenance treatment, neither were any factors significantly associated with treatment willingness found. We conclude that there is need for inclusion of more information about and easy referral to HCV therapy as part of opiate maintenance treatment.

Highlights

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injection drug users (IDUs) varies greatly around the world from 36% to 95% [1,2,3,4,5,6]
At the needle exchange program (NEP) in Malmö, 91% tested positive for HCV 1990-1993, and in the same study HCV infection kept spreading despite free access to clean injection tools
The NEP has a great role in diagnosing these as 70% of the HCV positive patients reported that they had been diagnosed at the NEP

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injection drug users (IDUs) varies greatly around the world from 36% to 95% [1,2,3,4,5,6]. At the needle exchange program (NEP) in Malmö, 91% tested positive for HCV 1990-1993, and in the same study HCV infection kept spreading despite free access to clean injection tools. The HCV incidence at Malmö NEP has recently been decreasing; the prevalence is still high. In 2013, the HCV prevalence among new participants at the NEP was 46% in men and 86% in women. Complications of HCV infection include hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). An estimated 10-15% of HCV infected patients will develop HCC within 20 years. Around 15-25% will heal spontaneously within one year after infection [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion