Simplifying Hepatitis C Pathways for People Who Inject Drugs in Armenia, Georgia, and Tanzania

Launched by MÉDECINS DU MONDE · Nov 28, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on improving how we test and treat hepatitis C for people who inject drugs in Armenia, Georgia, and Tanzania. Specifically, it aims to see if a simpler and faster approach to testing—where patients can receive treatment on the same day they are tested—can help more people start treatment and ultimately be cured of hepatitis C. The researchers will compare two groups: one that follows the traditional testing route, which includes a confirmatory test, and another that gets treated right away based on a quick test result. They will also evaluate which method is more cost-effective.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be at least 18 years old, able to understand and agree to the study in their local language, and should not have received treatment for hepatitis C before. Participants will either begin treatment after confirming their infection through a standard test or start treatment immediately if they get a positive result from the quick test. Over the following weeks, they will return for additional testing to check if the treatment worked. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it represents an important step toward making hepatitis C treatment more accessible for vulnerable populations.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 years or older
• • Able and willing to provide informed consent in local language
• • Not currently on or previously had treatment for hepatitis C
• • Attending site for needle / syringe program, OR self-reports ever injecting drugs
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Self-reported history of decompensate cirrhosis of the liver
• • Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
• • Self-report other significant co-morbidities such as uncontrolled HIV infection, history of renal dysfunction, tuberculosis infection, or chronic hepatitis B infection
• • Unable / unwilling to stop any contraindicated medications / supplements