The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Original Article

Hepatitis C Transmission, Prevention, and Treatment Knowledge Among Patients with HIV

Authors: Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, PhD, Rachel Blouin, MPH, Susan Reif, PhD, MSW, Arit Amana, MPH, Benjamin J. Rowland, BA, Frank Lombard, MSW, Beth Stringfield, BA, Andrew J. Muir, MD

Abstract

Objective: Liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious cause of mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (PLWHA). Little is known about the HCV knowledge of PLWHA.


Methods: One hundred seventy-nine patients at an infectious disease clinic were interviewed on HCV knowledge and alcohol use.


Results: Sixty-six percent of participants indicated that HCV is transmitted through blood; 53% indicated that persons with HIV-HCV co-infection can benefit from HCV treatment; and 79% and 74%, respectively, indicated that safer sex and safer injection techniques can prevent HCV transmission. Among PLWHA with self-reported HCV, 97% indicated that persons with HCV should not drink alcohol, but 32% reported using alcohol in the past 30 days.


Conclusions: Health education is needed to prevent HCV infections and increase HCV treatment-seeking. Higher education levels were related to more accurate HCV knowledge, indicating the need for health promotion for PLWHA of lower education levels.


Key Points


* People with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) need to know that hepatitis C (HCV) treatment exists for people with HIV/AIDS in order to encourage them to test for HCV, and, if HCV-infected, seek treatment.


* Education on the transmittal of HCV needs to be provided for HIV/AIDS patients so they might better protect themselves from HCV infection.


* The current study, conducted in central North Carolina, found that patients with HIV have large gaps in knowledge about HCV treatment and transmission and that unacceptably high numbers of patients with HIV-HCV co-infection drink alcohol.


* Individuals with HIV-HCV co-infection need strategies to avoid alcohol consumption.


* Efforts to educate patients with HIV may include medical providers and clinic social workers.

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