Hepatitis C Screening in Isfahan Drop in Centers: An Experience Description.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem in the world which drug injection is a primary mode of transmission for it. So, this study was conducted to determine seroprevalence of HCV in intravenous drug abusers (IVDA) in Isfahan province Drop in centers (DIC). Methods: This qualitative/quantitave study used triangulation method in data collection and analysis. Five semi-structured focus groups with open-ended questions were disposed to evaluate and discuss on aspects of the study. Intravenous drug abusers in Isfahan province Drop in centers by non-probable purposive sampling method entered into the study voluntarily and blood sample was obtained from them. Serum samples were tested for HCV-Ab using ELISA method. Finding: There were seven govermental Drop in centers including 4 related to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and 3 related to welfare organization which contained 1581 intravenous drug abusers members. From them, 539 patients (34%) enterd into the study from which, 250 (47.1%) patients were positive for HCV-Ab without significant differences between men and women. The main impressive factors for the project were wage for blood obtaning, occupational insurance, problems in interview and sampling, and time restriction. Conclusion: This was a good experience for other investigators and health directors' strategies to design simillar studies or harm reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]