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. 2006 Jun;134(3):478-84.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268805005248. Epub 2005 Sep 30.

Sexual risk for hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus-negative heroin and cocaine users

J D Rich  1 , B J Anderson, B Schwartzapfel, M D Stein
Affiliations

Sexual risk for hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus-negative heroin and cocaine users

J D Rich et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2006 Jun.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly prevalent, often co-occurring infections among drug users. We examined HBV prevalence and risk behaviour patterns among a group of HCV-negative heroin and/or cocaine users in order to understand HBV risk and prevention opportunities among this unique group. Of 164 people enrolled, 44% had injected drugs. Overall, 24% of participants tested positive for exposure to HBV; drug injectors (28%) were only slightly and not significantly (P=0.287) more likely to test positive than those who had never injected drugs (21%). HBV exposure was significantly associated with multiple indicators of greater sex risk. HBV status was not associated with any demographic characteristic, but participants who reported longer duration of cocaine use were significantly less likely to test positive to exposure for HBV. It appears that HBV risk among HCV-negative drug users in this cohort is primarily due to sexual behaviour.

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