Ongoing susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection among people who inject drugs in Sydney

Assessing the feasibility of hepatitis C virus vaccine trials: Results from the Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study-community (HITS-c) vaccine preparedness study

“…Participants not on OST who reported heroin as the main drug injected in the past six months had an elevated rate of HCV infection (26.9/100 py CI 14.5, 50.0), as did those who reported unstable housing (23.5/100 py CI 7.6, 72.8), daily or more frequent injecting (22.7/100 py CI 12.2, 42.2), receptive syringe sharing (23.6/100 py CI 9.8, 56.7) and ancillary equipment sharing (17.6/100 py CI 5.7, 54.5) (Table 3). However, as previously reported, incident HCV infection was only independently associated with daily or more frequent injecting in the six months prior to baseline and not being on OST while mainly injecting heroin [31]. HCV incidence did not vary by stated WTP in future HCV vaccine trials or by CTL score (Table 4).…”

“…While higher HCV incidence was observed among female participants (12.9/100 py CI 6.7, 27.2), those from CALD backgrounds (13.6/100 py CI 7.1, 26.2) and those aged less than 27 years (12.8/100 py CI 0.74, 21.9) (Table 2), only age remained independently associated with incidence in multivariate analysis (adjusted HR 5.10; CI 1.54, 16.81) [31]. …”

“…Research methods have been previously described [22, 23]. Briefly, recruitment sites in three Sydney regions (South West, Inner and Western Sydney) were selected following ten months of ethnographic fieldwork [24].…”

Hepatitis B virus exposure and vaccination in a cohort of people who inject drugs: What has been the impact of targeted free vaccination?

“…Despite the availability of an effective three‐dose HBV vaccine since 1982, coverage among PWID is low, leaving them vulnerable to infection . Many Australian PWID are unaware of the availability of hepatitis B tests or vaccination and around half do not know their true HBV status .…”

Forgotten but not gone

“…The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), in its report of the Listening Tour consultations in 2007-08, noted the introduction of 'condom trees' into the Fitzroy Crossing area of Western Australia, and cited anecdotal evidence of claimed reductions in STIs associated with this initiative. 7 In 2004, Molloy et al reported on the introduction of the SNAKE condom brand, and its associated social marketing strategy, into the Victorian regional centre of Mildura. These authors noted a significant increase in reported condom use among sexually active respondents when comparing the findings of pre and post-introduction surveys.…”