Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2024
Background: We aim to determine Costa Rica’s (CR) HIV/HCV prevalence trends and substance use (SU) practice to outline deficiencies in available data and provide recommendations to engage this population in care. CR is a middle-income country with universal health insurance. Its geographic location and proximity to countries that produce drugs make it an essential point for transferring and accessing drugs. New SU data indicates an increase in the use of ketamine and opioids. However, the lack of prevalence data on HIV/HCV people who use drugs (PWUD) prevents the country from eradicating HCV infections.
Methods: This study will introduce a field-based methodology for community serosurveys developed in collaboration with local researchers and community-based organizations. Utilizing respondent-driven sampling, participants will be recruited and tested for HCV antibodies and RNA using rapid testing and dried blood spot samples in CR. The data will inform the cascade of HCV care in CR and track changes in HIV/HCV prevalence over time.
Results: The CR Institute of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (IAFA) indicated that heroin has maintained prevalence levels of less than 0.3% for lifetime consumption. Recent data showed an emerging consumption of “Tusi/pink cocaine,” citing six out of every ten thousand used fentanyl. In 2018, a study funded by the Global Fund introduced Rapid Tests for HIV. A seroprevalence study was conducted within the framework of this project, resulting in an increased number of new cases diagnosed that year (32.7 per 100,000 population). Based on our literature review, there are currently no studies presenting HIV/HCV prevalence among PWUD or PWID.
Conclusion: The proposed study is vital to understanding the HIV/HCV prevalence in CR with the rising consumption of opioids and ketamine. Urgent implementation of strategies to expand awareness, testing, and treatment is essential to protect PWUD from HCV/HIV.