HCV infection among cocaine users in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

In this study, the prevalence, genotype frequency, and risk factors for HCV infection in 384 cocaine users were determined. One hundred twenty-four (32.3 %) cocaine users had anti-HCV antibodies and 120 (31.3 %) had HCV-RNA. Genotyping results indicated the predominance of genotypes 1 (73.3 %) and 3 (26.7 %). Multivariate analysis showed an association of HCV infection with tattoos, shared use of paraphernalia, daily cocaine use, and a long history of cocaine use. The epidemiological aspects of HCV infection among cocaine users presented here should serve as an incentive for the establishment of a program of hepatitis C prevention and control by the local public-health authorities in the Amazon.

Prevalence of HCV infection and associated factors among illicit drug users in Breves, State of Pará, northern Brazil

“…The factors associated with HCV infection detected in illicit drug users in Breves are similar to those reported in epidemiological studies in different Brazilian municipalities for this risk group [3][4][5][6]11 . Specifi cally, the risk factors for HCV infection are identical to those detected in cocaine users in the State of Pará 11 , thus confi rming the local epidemiological profi le of HCV transmission in illicit drug users.…”

“…The prevalence of HCV infection in illicit drug users sampled in metropolitan areas in the Northeast, Midwest, South and Southeast regions of Brazil ranged from 5% to 36% [3][4][5][6][7] . There are frequent reports of clinical cases of hepatitis or pathologies associated with HCV infection in other population groups in northern Brazil [8][9][10][11] . It is known that most illicit drug users in Pará do not consume injected drugs and are infected with HCV genotype 1 10,11 .…”

“…There are frequent reports of clinical cases of hepatitis or pathologies associated with HCV infection in other population groups in northern Brazil [8][9][10][11] . It is known that most illicit drug users in Pará do not consume injected drugs and are infected with HCV genotype 1 10,11 . This study estimated the prevalence of HCV infection and assessed the factors associated with HCV infection in illicit drug users in the municipality of Breves, State of Pará, northern Brazil.…”

Epidemiological aspects of HCV infection in non-injecting drug users in the Brazilian state of Pará, eastern Amazon

“…Recently in South America, consistent findings indicate that shared sniffing equipment is relevant in an important factor in the spread of HCV among non-injecting drug users [7-9]. In Brazil, epidemiological studies of HCV infection in non-injection drug user are still rare.…”

“…Their HCV prevalence rates range from 5.8% to 36.2%. HCV genotype 1 predominated, while genotype 3 was the second most common in illicit-drug users in Brazil [9-14]. …”