Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem (Dec 2013)

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C and factors associated with this in crack users

  • Laís Carvalho de Sá,
  • Telma Maria Evangelista de Araújo,
  • Rosane Harter Griep,
  • Viriato Campelo,
  • Claudete Ferreira de Souza Monteiro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.3126.2354
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 6
pp. 1195 – 1202

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE: to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C in crack users in Piauí. METHOD: seroepidemiological survey, undertaken in the Psycho-Social Care Centers for Drugs and Alcohol (CAPS AD) in Piauí in the period December 2011 to May 2012. A questionnaire was administered and blood samples were collected for serological research. Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were used, with a level of significance of (p<0.05). RESULTS: the prevalence of Anti-HCV was 05 (1.4%) and 04 (1.1%) for the RNA-HCV. There was a statistically significant association between hepatitis C (serological marker RNA-HCV) and age, being resident at home, length of use of crack, interruption of the use of crack, and the habit of sharing the crack pipes. CONCLUSION: the findings support the need to implement health policies aimed at crack users, due to the accelerated process of physical and psychological deterioration to which these are subject.

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