Behavior and major barriers faced by non-injectable drug users with HBV/HCV seeking treatment for hepatitis and drug addiction in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

Monica Malta¹  Sabine Cavalcanti¹  Louis Gliksman¹  Edward Adlaf¹  Mariana De Andrea Vilas-boas Hacker¹  Neilane Bertoni¹  Elize Massard¹  Francisco Inácio Bastos¹ 

[1] ,Fiocruz ENSP Rio de Janeiro RJ

关键词: Hepatitis;    Drug use;    Access;    Adherence;    Brazil;    Hepatites;    Uso de drogas;    Acesso;    Aderência;    Brasil;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1413-81232011001300026

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Drug users (DU) are a marginalized group and at risk for viral hepatitis, who seldom access health services. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 111 DU with chronic HBV/HCV and 15 in-depth interviews with health professionals/policymakers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most interviewees were male, non-white, with a low educational background, unemployed and/or living on less than $245 a month (minimun wage). In the last 6 months, 61.8% of interviewees snorted cocaine, 64.7% at least once a week. Half of the interviewees had a stable partner and 38.3% of those with occasional partners never/almost never using condoms. Addiction treatment seeking was found to be associated with: being white (OR:5.5), high-school degree (OR:8.7), and employment (OR:5.7). Hepatitis treatment seeking was high (80.9%), and access to low-threshold, user-friendly health services was key for treatment seeking behaviors (OR:3.6). Missed opportunities for hepatitis treatment seem to be associated with structural (uneven political/financial support to hepatitis programs) and patient-related barriers (severe addiction and non-adherence). Those most in need were less likely to access treatment, calling for renewed strategies, in order to curb hepatitis among impoverished drug users and their sexual partners.

【 授权许可】

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