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Abstract Details
Prevalence of hepatitis C in sexual assault survivors presenting to a SANE clinic: A descriptive analysis
Viral Hepat. 2022 Mar 31. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13675. Online ahead of print.
1Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
2Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
3Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
4Crisis Center Birmingham, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), SANE Clinic Director, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
5Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
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 < 0.0001)]. SAS age groups 25-34 and 35-44 were more likely to screen HCV Ab-positive (15.2% and 14.9% respectively; p = 0.02). Female SAS were more likely to be tested for HCV then males (p = 0.02), although male SAS were more likely to be found HCV Ab-positive when screened (24.4%, p < 0.0001). Overall, SAS demographics also demonstrate the presence of significant social vulnerabilities, specifically high rates of homelessness (4.4%) and incarceration (5.1%). This data highlight the potential impact of universal HCV screening and risk counselling in a high social risk population and suggests a potential for future focused interventions.