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Young Adults Who Inject Drugs & Risk of HCV

Health Promot Pract; ePub 2018 Sep 18; Knight, et al

Frequency asked questions (FAQs) posed by young-adult participants at high risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during screening and educational sessions addressed important gaps in HCV knowledge, a recent study found. From 2016 to 2018, 183 young adults (44.3% women, 85.8% Latino) aged <30 years who inject drugs and reside in Rio Arriba or Doña Ana counties in New Mexico were enrolled. The research team compiled deidentified questions during field enrollments. Researchers found:

  • FAQs were reviewed and categorized into 4 major domains, including risk/prevention, screening, treatment, and reinfection.
  • FAQs were addressed by a team of medical and public health professionals.
  • The FAQs addressed key gaps in HCV knowledge.
  • The FAQs also highlighted the importance of risk reduction counseling as well as access to safe and effective HCV treatments for this study population.

Citation:

Knight LL, Wagner K, Leyva Y, et al. Talking about hepatitis C: FAQs from young adults who inject drugs. [Published online ahead of print September 18, 2018]. Health Promot Pract. doi:10.1177/1524839918799455.