Abstract
Methods
357 patients at a free STD clinic in Miami, FL were screened for HCV. Surveys were administered assessing risk factors for infectious disease transmission, and HCV and HIV screening history.
Results
15.1% of participants had been screened for HCV before whereas 83.8% had been screened for HIV (n = 356). Of the patients previously screened for HCV (n = 54), 98.2% of these patients had previously been screened for HIV as well.
Conclusion
This data shows the low prevalence of prior HCV screenings in a high-risk population in Miami, FL. Participants who had previously received an HIV screening test were more likely to report receiving a prior HCV screening. Despite the high prevalence of HCV, most HCV infections are undiagnosed. Mortality from HIV has been declining in the United States while mortality from HCV is increasing. To decrease HCV related mortality, we recommend offering HCV screening in conjunction with HIV screening.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Union Positiva, the Schiff Center for Liver Diseases, Miami Center for AIDS Research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, supported by National Institutes of HealthGrant P30AI073961 (to E.T.), and the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute KL2 program (to E.T.).
Author contributions
Erica Feldman, B.S. MD/MPH candidate 2019, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Contributed new reagents or analytic tools, Analyzed data and Wrote the paper), Raymond Balise, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Contributed new reagents or analytic tools and Analyzed data), Eugene Schiff, M.D. Director, Schiff Center for Liver Disease, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Designed research), Nicole Whitehead, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida (Wrote the paper), Emmanuel Thomas, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Schiff Center for Liver Disease, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (Designed research, Performed research, Contributed new reagents or analytic tools, Analyzed data and Wrote the paper).
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Feldman, E.B., Balise, R., Schiff, E. et al. Barriers to Hepatitis C Screening in a Minority Population: A Comparison of Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Rates at a Community STD Clinic in Miami, Florida. J Community Health 42, 921–925 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0335-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0335-6