Reaching Hard-to-Reach People Who Use Drugs: A Community-Based Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who use drugs (PWUD) remains a challenge even in countries in which HCV care is provided free of cost. We assessed whether an innovative community-based, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey, coupled with HCV screening and immediate treatment, could be efficient to detect and cure current PWUD with chronic HCV in a large city of Southern France.

Methods

At a community site with peers, PWUD (cannabis not included) were enrolled after confirmation by a urine drug test. Participants were then screened for hepatitis B virus, HCV, and human immunodeficiency virus and benefited from onsite HCV treatment evaluation and prescription. Peer support was provided during treatment, and a systematic visit was scheduled 12 w

SUBMITTER: Nagot N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9239554 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature