Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2022
Background:
Females who inject drugs are less likely to receive treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared to
males. To achieve gender-equitable elimination, the factors influencing HCV treatment among
females who inject drugs need to be better understood. We aimed to evaluate factors associated
with treatment uptake among females with recent drug dependence in a large, population-based
data linkage study.
Methods:
HCV notifications in New South Wales, Australia (1995-2017) were linked to opioid agonist therapy
(OAT), hospitalisations, incarcerations, HIV notifications, deaths, and prescription databases. Drug
dependence was defined as hospitalisation due to injectable drugs or receipt of OAT, with these
indicators occurring in the era of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies (2016-2018) considered
recent. Logistic regression was used to analyse factors associated with treatment uptake among
females.
Results:
Among 57,467 people with evidence of chronic HCV in the DAA era (2016-2018), 20,161 (35%) were
female. Treatment uptake was lower among females (7,135/20,161, 35%) compared to males
(14,435/37,306, 39%) (p<0.001). Among females with evidence of recent drug dependence
(4,682/20,161, 23%), 42% (1,953/4,682) had received DAA treatment compared to 49% of males
(4,996/10,255) (p<0.001). Among females with evidence of recent drug dependence (n=4,628),
treatment was less likely among women who were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (adjusted
odds ratio [aOR]:0.83; 95%CI: 0.73, 0.96), and who had a record of giving birth (1-2 birth records:
aOR 0.84, 95%CI 0.72, 0.99; >3 birth records: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.40, 0.87) compared to those with no
birth record. Treatment was more likely among those with a history of alcohol use disorder (aOR:
1.22; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.38).
Conclusion:
Among females with drug dependence, those who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and those
who have given birth may require enhanced and novel approaches to encourage engagement with
HCV care. There is a clear need for sex-specific strategies to increase treatment uptake among
females.
Disclosure of Interest Statement:
Nothing to disclose.