Behavioral characteristics of Appalachian community contribute to epidemic of hepatitis C
Medical Press
Behavioral characteristics of Appalachian community contribute to epidemic of hepatitis C
by Elizabeth Adams
June 30, 2014
High rates of injection drug use, little access to intervention services and tight-knit social circles have created a perfect storm for the spread of the hepatitis C virus in Appalachia
University of Kentucky researchers have tracked cases of this highly infective virus in Appalachian drug users, with evidence that most new cases are affecting people under the age of 25. Since 2008, a research team led by Dr. Jennifer Havens, an epidemiologist in the University of Kentucky Center for Drug and Alcohol Research, has conducted routine testing and interviews with 500 drug users in Perry County. The goal of the study is to gain a better understanding the social and behavioral risk factors that contribute to the area's prevalence of hepatitis C, and ultimately use the knowledge to develop interventions aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
Every six months, participants in the study engage in live interviews regarding drug use behaviors, sexual activity and social networks. In addition, researchers test participants for hepatitis C (HCV), herpes simplex II (HSV-2) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The study has retained 95 percent of participants through five years, allowing the researchers to map support networks, drug use networks and sexual networks, as well as identify systemic changes in the drug use community. The researchers are also interested in monitoring the population for cases of HIV, a disease that has not yet been detected in the population but would transmit quickly if introduced....
MORE at http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-06-behavioral-characteristics-appalachian-contribute-epidemic.html