Baseline characteristics of 940 street youth, according to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) serostatus at study enrolment: At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), Vancouver, British Columbia, 2005–2011
| Characteristic | Total (%) (n=940) | HCV seropositive | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (%) (n=100) | No (%) (n=840) | OR (95% CI) | p Value | ||
| Sociodemographic factors | |||||
| Male gender | 654 (69.6) | 63 (63.0) | 591 (70.4) | 0.72 (0.47 to 1.11) | 0.131 |
| Mean age (SD)* | 21.7 (2.7) | 23.4 (2.5) | 21.5 (2.7) | 1.34 (1.23 to 1.47) | <0.001 |
| Aboriginal ancestry | 224 (23.8) | 30 (30.0) | 194 (23.1) | 1.43 (0.90 to 2.25) | 0.126 |
| High school education† | 415 (64.8) | 35 (35.0) | 380 (45.2) | 0.65 (0.42 to 1.00) | 0.051 |
| Gay/lesbian/bisexual | 151 (16.1) | 22 (22.0) | 129 (15.4) | 0.64 (0.39 to 1.07) | 0.087 |
| Recent homelessness‡ | 348 (37.0) | 54 (54.0) | 294 (35.0) | 2.18 (1.44 to 3.31) | <0.001 |
| Recent incarceration‡ | 176 (18.7) | 26 (26.0) | 150 (17.9) | 1.62 (1.00 to 2.61) | 0.048 |
| Substance use-related behaviours | |||||
| Mean years injecting (SD)§ | 4.3 (3.2) | 4.0 (3.3) | 4.6 (3.2) | 0.94 (0.82 to 1.07) | 0.350 |
| Non-injection prescription opioid use‡ | 90 (9.6) | 12 (12.0) | 78 (9.3) | 1.33 (0.70 to 2.54) | 0.383 |
| Prescription opioid injection‡ | 64 (6.8) | 28 (28.0) | 36 (4.3) | 8.69 (5.01 to 15.1) | <0.001 |
| Heroin injection‡ | 191 (20.3) | 66 (66.0) | 125 (14.9) | 11.1 (7.04 to 17.5) | <0.001 |
| Cocaine injection‡ | 93 (9.9) | 31 (31.0) | 62 (7.4) | 5.54 (3.43 to 9.26) | <0.001 |
| Crystal methamphetamine injection‡ | 154 (16.4) | 50 (50.0) | 104 (12.4) | 7.08 (4.55 to 11.0) | <0.001 |
| Syringe sharing‡ | 56 (6.0) | 18 (18.0) | 38 (4.5) | 4.63 (2.53 to 8.48) | <0.001 |
| Sexual risk behaviours | |||||
| Inconsistent condom use‡ | 433 (46.1) | 40 (40.0) | 393 (46.8) | 0.76 (0.50 to 1.16) | 0.198 |
| Sex work‡ | 65 (6.9) | 14 (14.0) | 51 (6.1) | 2.52 (1.34 to 4.74) | 0.003 |
*OR calculated per year older.
†Prior completion of or current enrolment in high school.
‡During the 6 months preceding study enrolment.
§Includes only actively injecting youth.