occasional injecting increases risk of acquiring Hepatitis C among People who Inject Drugs in Nairobi Kenya

Abigael Lukhwaro

TYPE: Oral
TRACK: Practice
AUTHORS: Abigael Lukhwaro, Médecins du Monde
TITLE: Occasional Injecting increases risk of acquiring Hepatitis C among People Who Inject Drugs in Nairobi-Kenya
ABSTRACT
Issue
There is an increase in the number of Hepatitis C cases among people considered as non-injectors- an average of 5 cases per month in one injecting den. This prompted us to investigate why the cases were rising through one on one counseling sessions, group sessions and discussions with peer educators. Issuing of needles and syringe is based on self-disclosed injecting behavior which means that those who had not disclosed their injecting behavior did not receive regular supply of needles and syringes.
Setting
Kenya is one of the countries with high number of people injecting drugs due to it coastal line, it is a major drug trafficking route. The number of people injecting drugs are approximately 18,000, HIV prevalence is about 19% and Hepatitis C prevalence ranges between 20- 40%.
Project
Following the rise of new cases of Hepatitis C infection, the program invested in understanding why occasional injectors were getting new HCV infections. One on one interviews revealed that they had shared a used needle and syringe during a previous injecting episode. They had challenges accessing needles and syringes because they did not want to disclose they are injecting. Further discussion revealed that injecting drugs was associated with high stigma and discrimination.
Outcomes
This project helped in tailor making harm reduction service package for people who inject drugs. The risk faced by occasional injectors was addressed by supplying extra needles and syringes to peer educators and to the ‘site doctors’. Specific needs of people who inject drugs must be addressed holistically to combat new hepatitis C infections.