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Reduced risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among injection drug users in the Tacoma syringe exchange program

Author

Listed:
  • Hagan, H.
  • Des Jarlais, D.C.
  • Friedman, S.R.
  • Purchase, D.
  • Alter, M.J.

Abstract

Objectives. This case-control study examined the association between syringe exchange use and hepatitis B and C in injection drug users. Methods. Case patients included 28 injection drug users with acute hepatitis B and 20 with acute hepatitis C reported to the health department in a sentinel hepatitis surveillance county; control subjects were injection drug users with no markers of exposure to hepatitis B or C (n = 38 and 26, respectively) attending health department services during the same period. Data were abstracted from clinic records. Results. Seventy-five percent of case patients with hepatitis B and 26% of control subjects had never used the exchange; similar proportions were found for the hepatitis C case and control groups. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and duration of injecting drugs, nonuse of the exchange was associated with a sixfold greater risk of hepatitis B (odds ratio [OR] = 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5, 20.4) and a sevenfold greater risk of hepatitis C (OR = 7.3; 95% CI = 1.6, 32.8). Conclusions. The results suggest that use of the exchange led to a significant reduction in hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the county and may have also prevented a substantial proportion of human immunodeficiency virus infections in injection drug users.

Suggested Citation

  • Hagan, H. & Des Jarlais, D.C. & Friedman, S.R. & Purchase, D. & Alter, M.J., 1995. "Reduced risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among injection drug users in the Tacoma syringe exchange program," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(11), pages 1531-1537.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1995:85:11:1531-1537_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Suparna Das & Jenevieve Opoku & Adam Allston & Michael Kharfen, 2018. "Detecting spatial clusters of HIV and hepatitis coinfections," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Shiell, Alan & Law, Matthew G, 2001. "The cost of hepatitis C and the cost-effectiveness of its prevention," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 121-131, November.
    3. Chen, Huey T., 2010. "The bottom-up approach to integrative validity: A new perspective for program evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 205-214, August.
    4. Harold A. Pollack, 2001. "Cost-effectiveness of Harm Reduction in Preventing Hepatitis C among Injection Drug Users," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 21(5), pages 357-367, October.
    5. Harold A. Pollack, 2001. "Can We Protect Drug Users from Hepatitis C?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 358-364.

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