Journal article
Markers and risk factors for HCV, HBV and HIV in a network of injecting drug users in Melbourne, Australia
ER Miller, ME Hellard, S Bowden, M Bharadwaj, CK Aitken
JOURNAL OF INFECTION | W B SAUNDERS CO LTD | Published : 2009
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Current injecting drug users (IDU) in major street drug markets within greater Melbourne were recruited to a longitudinal study on blood borne viruses. Here we investigated risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV infection in these IDU at the time of their recruitment. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-two IDU completed detailed questionnaires on their drug use and risk behaviours, and provided blood samples for serology testing. These data were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of exposure to HCV, HBV and HIV was estimated at 70%, 34% and 7.6years length of time injecting (RR 1.21, 95..
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Awarded by Federal Government's health research
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Peter Higgs, My Li Thach, Rebecca Winter, Stuart Armstrong and Duyen Duong for recruiting and interviewing participants, and to Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (the Federal Government's health research funding body) for funding the research (project grant #331312).