Hepatitis C Infection Among Hispanics in California

Abstract

Hispanics in California are more likely to be infected with hepatitis C, and those infected have had their infection detected later. A total of 1,567 Hispanic and Caucasian individuals were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C from 2000 through 2013. Interviewers administered the Risk Behavior Assessment. Hepatitis C-infected Hispanics were incarcerated longer than hepatitis C-infected Caucasians, and they used marijuana less and illicit methadone more. They were more likely to use crack, heroin, speedballs, and to have been in methadone treatment. Hispanics need hepatitis C testing linked to methadone treatment and written information in Spanish and English.

KEYWORDS:

• Hepatitis C
• Hispanic
• risk assessment
• methadone

FUNDING

Research reported in this publication was supported, in part, by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20M003942. Further support was provided by grant number R01 DA030234 from the NIDA. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.