HCV TRANSMISSION PATTERNS AMONG INJECTING DRUG USERS IN REGION OF PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Injecting drug users (IDUs) in Pakistan represent a high-risk group for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission due to unsafe injection practices and limited access to harm reduction services. This study aimed to assess HCV identifies key transmission patterns among IDUs in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to January 2025, involving 412 cases recruited from rehabilitation centers and community outreach programs. Participants completed a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic, drug use history, health behaviors, and HCV awareness. Blood samples were tested using rapid diagnostic kits, with confirmatory PCR for HCV RNA. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were conducted using SPSS Version 26.0. Results: The overall HCV prevalence was 69.4%. Significant risk factors included injecting drug use for over five years (AOR = 2.71, p = 0.001), recent needle sharing (AOR = 2.25, p = 0.002), obtaining syringes from peers or informal sellers (AOR = 1.68, p = 0.030), and a history of imprisonment (AOR = 1.91, p = 0.004). Only 18.7% of participants accessed clean needles through outreach programs, highlighting a substantial harm reduction gap. Conclusion: This study underscores a high burden of HCV among Pakistani IDUs, driven by preventable behaviors and structural barriers to harm reduction. Targeted interventions, including needle exchange programs, prison-based services, and expanded outreach, are urgently needed to curb HCV transmission in this population.