Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2024
Background: As Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a silent infection, an attempt was made to screen it, in order to contribute to diagnosis, treatment and elimination of this virus in Portugal. At the same time, the project aims to promote access to prevention, HCV screening tests, adequate referral and monitoring.
Methods: In an outreach and proximity context, a Mobile Screening Unit (MSU) “Saúde + Perto”, goes through different areas of Lisboa, Loures and Odivelas, to reach key populations that are at greater risk of exposure to HCV and with low less access to Portuguese National Health Service (PNHS).
Results: Between 1/10/2014 and 30/04/2024, 11,899 people underwent a screening session: majority were men (56.1%), average age 41.4years (SD=16.2), 89% agreed to undergo an HCV screening session. From these, 587 had reactive results, with referral to appointment: 62.5% with reactive results belong to vulnerable population. 87% users with reactive results were referred (89% attended appointment; 83% confirmed diagnosis; 92% started treatment).
Conclusion: MSU contributes to achieve targets proposed by WHO for 2030.
• 1 in 6 people screened had an HCV reactive result, most of them men;
• Vulnerable populations presented a higher percentage of reactive results to HCV, with a focus on USP (62.5%) and SA (25.4%);
• During monitoring, contact was lost with 48 people, most of them SA and/or USP, possibly due to the volatility and social conditions of these populations.