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. 2002 Mar-Apr;93(2):123-8.
doi: 10.1007/BF03404552.

Viral hepatitis in a Canadian street-involved population

S Moses  1 , K Mestery, K D E Kaita, G Y Minuk
Affiliations

Viral hepatitis in a Canadian street-involved population

S Moses et al. Can J Public Health. 2002 Mar-Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Data on the prevalence and compliance with management of viral hepatitis in the street-involved population are limited.

Method: Hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV) serology and compliance with HBV vaccination were documented in 533 street-involved individuals.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 25.7 years (range: 11-65) and 53% were female. Serologic evidence of HAV infection was present in 53%; HBV, 12% (3% ongoing infection); and HCV, 17%. HAV infections were associated with Aboriginal/Metis ethnicity and age over 25 years; HBV with injection drug use (IDU); and HCV with IDU, sex trade work and age over 25 years. Compliance with three-step HBV vaccination was 98%, 77% and 63%.

Conclusions: HAV, HBV and HCV are common infections in urban street-involved persons. Successful HBV (and presumably HAV) vaccination can be achieved in the majority of this population, but concerns exist regarding compliance with more long-term, parenterally-based antiviral therapies.

Contexte: On manque de données sur la prévalence de l’hépatite virale et l’observance des traitements chez les personnes de la rue.

Méthode: Nous avons documenté le dépistage des virus de l’hépatite A, B et C (VHA, VHB et VHC) et l’observance du vaccin anti-VHB chez 533 personnes de la rue.

Résultats: La population étudiée avait en moyenne 25,7 ans (intervalle: 11–65), et 53 % étaient des femmes. Des signes sérologiques d’infection étaient présents chez 53 % des sujets pour le VHA, 12 % pour le VHB (dont 3 % d’infections actives) et 17 % pour le VHC. Les infections à VHA étaient associées à l’origine ethnique autochtone ou métisse et aux plus de 25 ans; les infections à VHB, aux utilisateurs de drogues injectables (UDI); et les infections à VHC, aux UDI, aux travailleurs du sexe et aux plus de 25 ans. Les taux d’observance du programme de vaccination anti-VHB en trois étapes étaient de 98 %, 77 % et 63 %, respectivement.

Interprétation: Les infections à VHA, VHB ou VHC sont communes chez les personnes de la rue. Il serait possible d’immuniser la majorité d’entre elles contre le VHB (et sans doute contre le VHA), mais l’observance des traitements antiviraux à long terme administrés par voie parentérale est loin d’être assurée.

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