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S J Carruthers

Publications and source records attributed to S J Carruthers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The Australian Study of HIV and Injecting Drug Use. Part I: prevalence for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among injecting drug users in four Australian cities.

The objective of this study was to assess differences in HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C seroprevalence among injecting drug users (IDU) in four Australian cities. Eight hundred and seventh-two current IDU were recruited in approximately equal numbers from each of Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and interviewed individually using a structured questionnaire. Fingerprick blood samples were taken from the majority of respondents, and tested for past exposure to the three viruses. HIV and hepatitis B and C raw seroprevalences were compared across cities, and comparisons were made of age-standardized seroprevalences for hepatitis B and C. Three percent of all respondents were HIV seropositive; 19% (23% age-standardized) were hepatitis B seropositive and 55% (60% age-standarized) were hepatitis C seropositive. There were general city differences and gender, sexual preference and treatment status group differences between the cities. Sydney respondents had the highest risk of infection for all three viruses in all comparisons. This was particularly striking for HIV among non-heterosexual men. Various explanations for the findings were considered, including city differences in demographic and drug use variables, underlying patterns of risk behaviour, and period/cohort effects. It was concluded that none of these explanations appeared to fit the pattern of findings, and that these probably represented true underlying differences in size of pools of infection. The reasons for this, however, cannot be ascertained from this study.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

The Australian study of HIV and injecting Drug Use. Part II: predicting exposure to hepatitis C and hepatitis B.

Researchers agree that while hepatitis B maybe in control, hepatitis C is present in epidemic proportions among injecting drug users and that current HIV prevention strategies have not been sufficient to halt the spread of this hepatitis virus, although there is some evidence to suggest that incidence rates are stabilizing. Since there is no effective cure and it is unlikely that a vaccine will become available in the foreseeable future all efforts to control the spread of hepatitis C must rely on education and prevention strategies. The Australian Study of HIV and Injecting Drug Use is a cross-sectional national study designed to investigate exposure to and risks for infection with bloodborne viruses. Of those volunteering a usable blood sample for hepatitis C antibody and hepatitis B core antibody testing 55% and 19%, respectively, returned reactive test results. Logistic regression statistical models were used to identify risk factors for hepatitis C and hepatitis B. Risk factors for hepatitis C were identified as duration of use, use of opiates on last injecting occasion, education level, treatment status and having a history of sexually transmissible diseases. Risk factors associated with hepatitis B were duration of use, and use of opiates on last injecting occasion. The lack of identifiable risk factors for hepatitis B suggest that past rather than current injecting and sexual behaviour patterns are required to predict accurately risk of exposure to hepatitis B. In addition to this, one-third of respondents reported being vaccinated against hepatitis B. Respondents perceived themselves to be at greater risk from hepatitis C than from hepatitis B or HIV. A discussion of strategies needed to prevent the spread of the hepatitis viruses will be presented along with recommendations for further research.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

The standard drink and alcohol consumption.

The term 'standard drink' is commonly used when researchers collect alcohol consumption data and when educators create campaigns to encourage people to drink responsibly. However, little is known about community knowledge of the term 'standard drink' or what it represents in terms of what people are drinking in their own homes or on unlicensed premises. This study measured the amounts of a variety of alcoholic beverages that a sample of Perth metropolitan people use when drinking on unlicensed premises. The level of knowledge of the alcohol content of a variety of beverages and the knowledge of the term standard drink and what it represents in terms of commonly consumed beverages was also measured. The results showed that knowledge of the alcohol content of beverages was very poor. Knowledge of the term standard drink and what it represents in terms of absolute alcohol was also poor. Regarding the amounts of beverages poured, red and white wine, champagne and spirits are likely to be poured in amounts well in excess of a standard drink when people are drinking in their own homes. The results of this study have implications for the efficacy of educational campaigns designed to encourage safe and responsible drinking practices through the monitoring of personal intake. Before these can be effective, the terminology used must be familiar and well understood by the community towards which they are aimed. The results also discussed with respect to the design and administration of alcohol consumption questionnaires.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Thiamin in beer: a health promotion perspective.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious disease resulting from excessive alcohol intake. As well as the disastrous consequences for the individual, patients with WE place a heavy burden for continuing care on the community. Australia appears to have a higher rate of WE than other western countries, probably due to differences in the consumption patterns of alcoholic beverages. Unlike most other western countries, Australia does not fortify flour with thiamin. On the other hand the USA does fortify flour and has higher thiamin intakes and lower rates of WE. In Australia it has been proposed that thiamin be added to alcoholic beverages. Given that technical problems related to stability, taste and absorption can be solved, the fortification of a substance which is potentially harmful, raises serious problems for health educators. The labeling of alcoholic beverages as 'vitamin enriched' could result in changes in the community's beliefs about alcohol and in increased alcohol consumption. The nutrition and education implications of this proposal are discussed. The conclusion is drawn that Australia should follow the example of other western countries and fortify flour with thiamin.

Australia↗