
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Coupland, Heidi 
A1  - Day, Carolyn 
A1  - T. Levy, Miriam 
A1  - Maher, Lisa 
T1  - Promoting equitable access to hepatitis C treatment for Indo-Chinese injecting drug users
JF  - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
JO  - Health Promot J Aust
Y1  - 2009
VL  - 20
IS  - 3
SP  - 234
EP  - 240
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HE09234 
N2  - Issue addressed: Increasing the uptake of hepatitis C treatment by injecting drug users (IDUs) is a key strategy in addressing the escalating disease burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Australia. Little is known about barriers to treatment uptake among culturally diverse groups of IDUs. Indo-Chinese IDUs represent a marginalised group with high rates of incident and prevalent HCV infection. Methods: An ethnographic study was conducted to explore barriers to HCV treatment uptake experienced by Indo-Chinese IDUs and inform the development of policies and practices that promote access to treatment. Following a baseline interview, participants (n=23) received a brief intervention about HCV treatment and an offer of facilitated referral to a tertiary liver clinic. Follow-up interviews were conducted three and six months post intervention, to explore decision-making about treatment-seeking and experiences accessing the clinic. Results: While ?getting rid of? HCV was regarded as highly desirable, only three participants were assessed for treatment. For most participants, seeking treatment was not seen as feasible given social and structural barriers related to their drug use, lack of resources and support. Institutional barriers included the clinic?s administrative procedures, limited flexibility and apparent reluctance to consider current IDUs suitable candidates for treatment. Conclusions: Resources and support, flexible, low threshold approaches to assessment and a willingness to provide treatment to current IDUs, would promote equitable access to treatment among these groups. Key words: injecting drug user, hepatitis C treatment, marginalisation, cultural diversity. 
ER  -

