Abstract
Since viral hepatitis among intravenous drug users continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, the present study was conducted to survey drug agencies in England and Wales in order to identify the prevalence of hepatitis B and C testing and vaccination being provided. A postal survey of all 539 drug agencies in England and Wales was thus conducted to assess their current treatment provisions and practices. An analysis of the responses provided by the 373 agencies that returned usable data (69.2% response rate) revealed that only one-quarter (26.6%) of the drug agencies conducted routine hepatitis B testing, and 26.9% did not offer it at all. Just over half (55.7%) of the agencies provided hepatitis B vaccination, but only 21.7% did so routinely. Seventy percent provided hepatitis C testing, but only 24% did so routinely. Nevertheless, the majority of respondents, of whom 40.3% were nurses and 25.1% drug workers, believed that clients and their partners should be offered hepatitis B and C screening. The paucity of hepatitis testing and vaccination services being offered to injecting drug users is unacceptable, with users, their partners and children being needlessly exposed to continued risk. The disparity between recommended policy and current practice needs to be urgently addressed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Winstock, A., Sheridan, J., Lovell, S. et al. National Survey of Hepatitis Testing and Vaccination Services Provided by Drug Services in England and Wales. EJCMID 19, 823–828 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960000377
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960000377