Positive Hepatitis C Virus Antibody in Cases with History of Intravenous Drug Abuse via Community Announcement: A Useful Experience

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Specialist in Infections Diseases, Disease Control Unit, Isfahan Province Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

2 AIDS, Hepatitis and Sexual Transmitted Diseases Expert, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Health Center, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

4 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Health Center, Isfahan, Iran.

5 Researcher, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

6 Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

7 Technical Manager, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

8 Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Injection drug use plays the most important role in transmission of hepatitis C. In Iran, surveys have been conducted on various high risk groups but this is the first announcement based study for anti-HCV prevalence among cases with history of intravenous drug using (IVDU) in the country.Methods: The announcement-based detection and follow-up of patients with anti-HCV positive project in volunteers with history of intravenous drug using was conducted in Isfahan province. At the first step, six focus groups were conducted and 2 pilot studies were carried out in two cities to design the main study. Comprehensive community announcement was done in all of public places and for physicians. The volunteers were invited to Isfahan reference laboratories and the serum samples were sent to Infectious Diseases Research Center Laboratory in standard conditions and HCV-Ab was tested by ELISA method.Finding: In this study, 1747 individuals that are estimated 50% of all expected intravenous drug users in the community were presented themselves. The most important reasons of success in recruiting volunteers in this study were the perfect propaganda, appropriate cooperation of lab staffs, continuous evaluation, and good cooperation in Isfahan province administrations. HCV-Ab was detected in 34% of them and the HCV-Ab positives were sent for further follow-up procedures including confirmatory test, education, and treatment.Conclusion: In spite of some limitations to select real cases, this study considered as a successful experience. Compared to the surveys in Iran on HCV prevalence in intravenous drug users, the results of this study which was based on volunteers by announcement seems to be noteworthy.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 28, Issue 0
November and December 2011
Pages 1546-1552

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 March 2011
  • Revise Date: 07 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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