Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: Dr Abhishek Chowhan, the leading Neuro-Psychiatrist and De-addiction specialist of Jammu was conferred Dr G C Boral Award for his research on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in intravenous drug users.
The award was announced in the recently concluded conference of Indian Psychiatric society at Chandigarh. The conference was attended by a number of experts from the field of psychiatry, psychology and allied branches throughout the country both by online and offline mode.
Dr GC Boral award is a prestigious award bestowed every year by north zone to the best research in the field of mental health. The study titled “Prevalence, knowledge and barriers to treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection in intravenous drug users in Jammu region, India” was authored by Dr Abhishek Chowhan and others.
The HCV is a major cause of hepatitis (acute and chronic) and cirrhosis the world over. It was discovered in 1990 as a causative agent for post- blood transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis.HCV is a noxious illness and can lead to permanent liver damage and liver cancer. The predominant mode of transmission for HCV has shifted from post-transfusion infection to injection drug use (IDU).With the burden of IDUs increasing in Jammu region, it is perceived that infections like HCV may also be increasing. However, many IDUs do not receive treatment despite knowing their HCV status.
This study estimated the prevalence of HCV infection in Intravenous drug users, their knowledge about the illness and the factors which prevented them to seek treatment from this deadly infection. The study enrolled about 268 IDUs, of these 203 were using heroin and 65 buprenorphine intravenously. The prevalence of current HCV infection was estimated to be 42.16%. The infection rate was highest in those below 18 years of age, male sex, unmarried patients, those who were unemployed or in unskilled job, education level below 10th standard, lower socioeconomic class and those having poor social support. Needle sharing and long duration of drug use were risk factors significantly associated with HCV. Other risk factors were multiple sex partners, tattooing, multiple drug use etc.
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