Citation

Ward E, Carlisle N, Williams E, Heath SL, Meloun K, Walter LA. J. Vira.l Hepat. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jvh.13675

PMID

35357765

Abstract

While previous epidemiologic research has demonstrated that sexual assault survivors (SAS) may be at disproportionate risk for exposure to Hepatitis C (HCV), HCV screening in SAS is not addressed in current post-sexual assault testing recommendations. We sought to identify the prevalence of HCV among a SAS cohort along with associated basic demographics. Opt-out HCV antibody screening and RNA confirmatory testing was provided for all SAS at a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) clinic in Birmingham, Alabama from April 2020 through March 2021. A retrospective chart review was conducted using descriptive statistical and Chi-squared analyses. A total of 293 SAS presented to the clinic during the study timeframe. Two hundred forty-two (82.6%) were screened for HCV and 26 (8.9%) were found to be HCV antibody (Ab) positive [significantly higher than state (<1.0%) and national (1.0%) HCV incidence rates (p <.0001)]. SAS age groups 25-34 and 35-44 were more likely to screen HCV Ab positive (15.2% and 14.9% respectively; p =.02). Female SAS were more likely to be tested for HCV then males (p =.02), although male SAS were more likely to be found HCV Ab positive when screened (24.4%, p <.0001). Overall, SAS demographics also demonstrate the presence of significant social vulnerabilities, specifically high rates of homelessness (4.4%) and incarceration (5.1%). This data highlights the potential impact of universal HCV screening and risk counseling in a high social risk population and suggests a potential for future focused interventions.

Language: en

Keywords

sexual assault; homelessness; hepatitis C; incarceration; sexual assault survivor