Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2018
Background: The objective of our study is to assess the level of knowledge of drug users (DU) on HCV and the associated risks of contamination, but also on HCV screening and treatment to assess the lack of information. Approach: A survey has been conducted among 163 DU. A total of 33 questions about them and their knowledge on HCV, the risks, the tests and the treatments were asked. The aim was to highlight links between the populations (gender, locations, health providing access, etc.) and their knowledge to improve and adapt the offer of prevention, harm reduction and treatment. The data analyses have been conducted by using Chi2 test. Outcome: The preliminary results show that 99% of DU declared that they know HCV but reveal that most of them have a weak knowledge about the disease. The last information which have been given to them about the available HCV screening tools and the treatments was given at least 6 years ago (72%). 24% do not know that hepatitis C can be treated or think that it cannot be treated. On the other hand, if 92% of DU declare knowing where to get tested, the frequencies of screening are too low compared with the risks taken (e.g. 28% of DU have been tested only once in their lifetime). Conclusion: This survey shows that is necessary to develop programs of prevention and information campaigns, and to offer new accesses to the various HCV screening methods, adapted to DU. Additional statistical analyses to assess the levels of knowledge and understanding of HCV linked to variables such as gender, proximity of the several harm reduction programs, consumption patterns, etc. are on-going and the results will be presented. Disclosure of Interest Statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Key words: HCV, drug users, prevention, information, screening, treatment, harm reduction.
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