[The prevalence of infection by the hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency viruses in drug users]. / Prevalencia de la infección por los virus de la hepatitis B, C e inmunodeficiencia humana en usuarios de drogas.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the prevalence of the hepatitis B (HBV) infection, hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its coexistence in intravenous drug users, in order to start afterwards a vaccination and sanitary training programmes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intravenous drug users attended in a health centre and in the drugs addition deshabitation centre of reference located in a marginal urban quarter. Patients were detected from the health centre. During one year (June 1995-1996) facts were collected. The age, sex, consumption, type, administration mechanism and also the described serologies were analysed. It has been carried out descriptive statistics and applied the chi-square [correction of square-ji] test. RESULTS: A study of 355 patients, 295 (83.1%) males and 60 (16.9%) females was carried out. The average age was 28.6 years (SD = 6.5). All serologies in 113 (31.8%) were available. The positive serologies for HIV, 64.6% for HBV and 64.4% had 71.1% for HCV. The three of them coexisted in a 35.4% between HIV, 39.1% of them were VHB and 88% VHC. 49.1% were VHB and VHC. The infection from any of the three virus was related with intravenous administration mechanism, but not with sex or drug type. CONCLUSION: The infection caused from the virus above mentioned is frequent in drug users. A not negligible percentage of patients could benefit from the hepatitis B vaccine administration (67.6%) or other preventive measures.

[Contraception: gypsy versus non-gypsy women]. / Anticoncepción: gitanas frente a payas.

OBJECTIVE: To find the contraceptive methods used or known by women of fertile age, and find differences between gypsy and non-gypsy women. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Primary care centre in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona). PARTICIPANTS: Women of fertile age, who were sexually active and did not wish to become pregnant, and who attended the centre for any reason. MEASUREMENTS: From March to August 1997, a survey was conducted in which personal data, number of sexual contacts, parity, use and knowledge of contraceptive methods, if and where their method is monitored, and satisfaction with their method were asked. RESULTS: 186 non-gypsy and 126 gypsy women answered the survey. The gypsy women knew less about barrier contraception (diaphragm p < 0.0001); IUD p = 0.0003; spermicides p = 0.001), periodic abstention (p = 0.002) and definitive methods (vasectomy p < 0.0001; tubal occlusion p = 0.0004). The commonest method used by the gypsy women was coitus interruptus (p = 0.0002). Gypsy women asked for less contraceptive advice and had less monitoring of their method (p = 0.001). They had more pregnancies which led to a greater number of live children (p < 0.0001) and induced abortions (p = 0.01). They lived more often with their sexual partner (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Gypsy women know about safe methods but do not use them. They ask less for contraceptive advice and have more induced abortions. There should be family planning programmes aimed at this group, whose cultural and family features are distinct.

PIP: 186 non-Gypsy and 126 Gypsy women attending a primary care center in Barcelona for any reason during March-August 1997 were surveyed regarding personal characteristics and contraceptive knowledge and usage to assess differences between the two groups. The women were of fertile age, sexually active, and did not desire pregnancy. 92% had a regular sexual partner. 83% of the Gypsies and 65% of the others lived with the partner. The average relationship duration was 9.6 years for both groups. The most used contraceptive method was the condom for non-Gypsy women (36%) and withdrawal for Gypsy women (23%). Oral contraceptives and IUDs were the second and third most widely used for both groups, respectively. 18% of Gypsies and 4% of non-Gypsies currently used no method. The Gypsy women had significantly less knowledge of barrier methods, IUDs, spermicides, periodic continence, vasectomy, or tubal occlusion. Gypsy women were significantly less likely to seek contraceptive advice or monitoring of their contraceptive usage. The median number of induced abortions reported was 0.2 for Gypsy and 0.1 for non-Gypsy women. It was concluded that family planning programs should be tailored to promote use of effective contraceptive methods among Gypsy women, who have distinct cultural and family traits.