Digestive and Liver Disease
Volume 46, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 62-66

Active recruitment strategy in disadvantaged immigrant populations improves the identification of human immunodeficiency but not of hepatitis B or C virus infections (Article)

Stornaiuolo G. , Cuniato V. , Cuomo G. , Nocera E. , Brancaccio G. , De Rosa M. , Pontarelli A. , Grasso G. , Danzi G. , Grossi A. , Natale R.F. , Gaeta G.B.*
  • a Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University, Naples, Italy
  • b Social Medical Voluntary Association Jerry Essan Masslo, Castelvolturno, Caserta, Italy
  • c Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University, Naples, Italy
  • d Social Medical Voluntary Association Jerry Essan Masslo, Castelvolturno, Caserta, Italy
  • e Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University, Naples, Italy
  • f Social Medical Voluntary Association Jerry Essan Masslo, Castelvolturno, Caserta, Italy
  • g Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University, Naples, Italy
  • h Social Medical Voluntary Association Jerry Essan Masslo, Castelvolturno, Caserta, Italy
  • i Unit of Pathology, G. Moscati Hospital, Aversa, Italy
  • j Faculty of Communication Sciences, Institute for Public Communication-ICP, Swiss Italian University, Lugano, Switzerland
  • k Social Medical Voluntary Association Jerry Essan Masslo, Castelvolturno, Caserta, Italy
  • l Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University, Naples, Italy

Abstract

Background: Barriers to access medical screening and care may underestimate the number of diseased subjects among immigrant populations. Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections among immigrants recruited in a disadvantaged area. Methods: The study enrolled all subjects seen between 1999 and 2009 at an on-site health and family counselling centre for immigrants. During the first 6 years of the study a pro-active recruitment was performed using a mobile unit. Results: Overall 2681 subjects were enrolled (median age: 31 years; 52.8% males; 82.3% from Sub-Saharan Africa; 13.9% of the women were sex workers). A total of 206 subjects (7.6%) were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, 84 (3.6%) were anti-hepatitis C virus-positive, 129 (5%) were anti-human immunodeficiency virus-positive, 84 (3.1%) were drug users, and 436 (16.3%) were alcohol abusers. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus remained consistent throughout the study period, while the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus significantly decreased. At multivariate analysis, hepatitis B virus infection was associated with male gender, hepatitis C virus infection with drug addiction, and human immunodeficiency virus infection was associated with female gender, drug addiction, and active recruitment. Conclusions: An active recruitment strategy should be considered to reach disadvantaged populations at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection. © 2013.

Author Keywords

Hepatitis C Hepatitis B HIV infection immigrants

Index Keywords

HIV infection immigrant Europe, Eastern HIV Infections Africa south of the Sahara health care planning Human immunodeficiency virus infection Proportional Hazards Models human Asia priority journal Substance-Related Disorders Eastern Europe Logistic Models alcoholism drug dependence screening condom use Young Adult Humans Human immunodeficiency virus antibody male Emigrants and Immigrants female Multivariate Analysis high risk population prostitution Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test prevalence Coinfection family counseling Article hepatitis B(e) antibody major clinical study adult gender Africa, Northern North Africa drug use Age Factors hepatitis B surface antibody alcohol abuse hepatitis C antibody hepatitis B surface antigen patient selection Italy hepatitis B disease association hepatitis B core antibody hepatitis B(e) antigen mixed infection hepatitis C immigrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84892366444&doi=10.1016%2fj.dld.2013.08.126&partnerID=40&md5=22fb12849675a66835bed10014c3ca3f
DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2013.08.126
ISSN: 15908658
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English