Risk factors for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among the chronic mentally ill

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of risk factors for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among people with chronic mental illness treated in a community setting. Method: 234 patients attending four community mental health clinics in the North-western Health Care Network in Melbourne, Australia, completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire which covered demographics, risk behaviour and psychiatric diagnosis. Results: The sample was 58% male, and 79% of the sample had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia. Forty-three per cent of mentally ill men and 51% of mentally ill women in the survey had been sexually active in the 12 months preceding the survey. One-fifth..