Hepatitis C Among Injecting Drug Users Is Two Times Higher in Stockholm, Sweden than in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. (6th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Norden, Lillebil; van Veen, Maaike; Lidman, Christer; Todorov, Ivo; Guarita, Bruno; Kretzschmar, Mirjam; Wiessing, Lucas
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 48:Number 14(2013)
• Page Start: 1469
• Page End: 1474
• Publication Date: 2013-12-06
• Subjects: Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2013.793356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This study assessed risk behavior and preventive measures for hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (452 participants, 2002–2003) and Stockholm, Sweden (310 participants, 2004–2006), two cities with contrasting drug policies. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models were used. We found that the prevalence of hepatitis C was almost two times higher in participants from Stockholm than in participants from Rotterdam, even after adjustment for sex sharing paraphernalia (adjusted relative risk: 1.92, 95% confidence interval: 1.60–2.29). Follow-up comparative studies are needed to determine if policies with structured health programs can decrease transmission of hepatitis C.</p> </abstract>