Correlates of Hepatitis C Virus among injection drug users and their sex partners in Cd. Juarez

ackground: The drug using risk behaviors associated with injection drug use are a major public health issue due to the increased risk of contracting blood- borne pathogens such as the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Needle and syringe sharing is well established to be an efficient mode of transmission of HCV. The prevalence of HCV among injection drug users (IDUs) in Cd. Juarez is documented to be over 90%. However, the literature on the sexual transmission of HCV is minimal. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional pilot study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of HCV and risk behaviors among IDUs and their non-injecting sex partners in Cd. Juarez. A mix of convenience sampling and snowball sampling was used for recruitment. The outreach workers interviewed 50 IDUs with their non-injecting sex partners (n=50 couples). The outreach workers administered a structured interview to assess demographics and sexual and drug using risk behaviors, conducted the rapid HCV test (OraQuickRTM HCV Rapid Antibody Test, OraSure Technologies, Inc.). Participants received an equivalent of...