This study evaluates the prevalence and incidence rates of infection with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), in a cohort of drug users (DU) on methadone maintenance treatment in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 700 DU participated between 1988 and 1995; the follow-up rate was high. The prevalence rate at entry into treatment declined dramatically over time for all 3 viruses. Comparing DU born before 1961 to those born after 1970 the prevalence rate of HIV was 29. 1% versus 2.0%, of HBV 71.3% versus 2.2%, and of HCV 83.6% versus 17.9%. The incidence rates for HIV and HBV were low (0.6 and 2.1 per 100 person years of follow up). For HCV the rate was high (4.2) with a slightly higher rate among women. These data suggest that DU have changed HIV risk taking behaviour in response to HIV prevention campaigns. Current prevention efforts should focus on improvement of HCV prevention and maintaining safe behaviour.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.20297 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Broers Kayser, Barbara. |
| Contributors | Hankins, Catherine (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001652133, proquestno: MQ50728, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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