Hepatitis C and injecting networks

The Networks 2 project was a collaborative project that brought together qualitative and quantitative epidemiologists, social network modellers, virologists and immunologists in order to study the transmission and natural history of the hepatitis C virus in a social network of young people who inject drugs.

Objective

The aim of this project was to identify behavioural, social, genetic and other biological factors associated with hepatitis C transmission and progression to chronic hepatitis C.

Timeline

2005–2006.

Approach

Project participants were recruited from street illicit drug markets in Melbourne in 2005-2006 and followed over time. At approximately three month intervals, we conducted interviews with participants and collected blood samples. The interviews were designed to collect information about participants' risk behaviour and social connects with other people who inject drugs.

The blood samples were used to test for hepatitis C and other blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B and HIV), as well as genetic and immunological markers. In combination with traditional statistical methods, social network and other mathematical models were used to analyse the data at a population level.

Qualitative interviews were used to explore social and behavioural issues in more detail.