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Hepatitis C among methadone maintenance treatment patients in Shanghai and Kunming, China
1University of California, 11075 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. yhser@ucla.edu
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects over half of patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Recent injection and opiate use predict HCV status, highlighting the need for targeted HCV education programs.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- High prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection among patients undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the prevalence and risk factors for HCV is crucial for developing effective interventions in MMT populations.
- Assessing patient knowledge and attitudes towards HCV is essential for designing targeted health promotion strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HCV among MMT patients in Kunming and Shanghai.
- To identify risk factors associated with HCV infection in this population.
- To explore the relationship between HCV serostatus and patients' attitudes towards MMT.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 306 MMT patients in Shanghai and Kunming between 2009-2010.
- Comparison of HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients based on clinical records.
- Assessment of HCV knowledge, risk behaviors, and attitudes toward MMT through questionnaires and clinical data.
Main Results:
- The overall HCV seropositive rate was 53.3%, with similar rates in Shanghai (51.3%) and Kunming (55.5%).
- A majority of patients were unaware of their HCV status, and knowledge regarding HCV infection, transmission, and treatment was generally low.
- Recent injection drug use and longer duration of opiate use were significant predictors of HCV positivity, whereas sexual risk behaviors and HCV knowledge did not differ between groups.
Conclusions:
- The high HCV prevalence and limited patient awareness underscore the urgent need for comprehensive HCV education and health promotion initiatives within MMT programs.
- Interventions should focus on addressing key risk factors such as injection drug use and opiate use duration.
- Integrating HCV prevention, education, and treatment into MMT services is vital for improving health outcomes.
Background:
This study aims to: (1) document the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients in Kunming and Shanghai; (2) examine risk factors for HCV by comparing those who tested positive with those who were negative and (3) examine if HCV serostatus is related to attitudes toward MMT.
Methods:
Using data collected from 306 patients admitted to MMT in 2009-2010 in Shanghai and Kunming, we compared HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients (based on clinical records) on their HCV knowledge and risk behaviors and attitudes toward MMT.
Results:
The HCV seropositive rate was 53.3% (51.3% in Shanghai and 55.5% in Kunming) and a majority of patients did not know their serostatus. Patients scored on average fewer than 6 correct out of the 20 items in the HCV knowledge questionnaire. Recent injection use and length of opiate use were strong predictors of HCV status, while no differences were found between HCV-positive and HCV-negative individuals in sexual risks or HCV knowledge. Both groups expressed similar views toward MMT.
Conclusion:
The high HCV prevalence and the general lack of knowledge about HCV infection, transmission and treatment suggest the need to provide HCV education and health promotion programs among patients in MMT.
