Rondy, MWiessing, LHutchinson, S JMatheï, CMathis, FMravcik, VNorden, LRosińska, MScutelniciuc, OSuligoi, BVallejo-Ruiz de Leon, FernandoVan Veen, MKretzschmar, M2020-12-042020-12-042013-03Epidemiol Infect. 2013 Mar;141(3):563-72.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9151900/http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/11500Monitoring injecting drug users' (IDUs) health is challenging because IDUs form a difficult to reach population. We examined the impact of recruitment setting on hepatitis C prevalence. Individual datasets from 12 studies were merged. Predictors of HCV positivity were sought through a multilevel analysis using a mixed-effects logistic model, with study identifier as random intercept. HCV prevalence ranged from 21% to 86% across the studies. Overall, HCV prevalence was higher in IDUs recruited in drug treatment centres compared to those recruited in low-threshold settings (74% and 42%, respectively, P < 0·001). Recruitment setting remained significantly associated with HCV prevalence after adjustment for duration of injecting and recent injection (adjusted odds ratio 0·7, 95% confidence interval 0·6-0·8, P = 0·05). Recruitment setting may have an impact on HCV prevalence estimates of IDUs in Europe. Assessing the impact of mixed recruitment strategies, including respondent-driven sampling, on HCV prevalence estimates, would be valuable.engVoRhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Needle-Exchange ProgramsPatient SelectionSubstance Abuse Treatment CentersAdultEuropeFemaleHepatitis CHumansMalePrevalenceResearch DesignSelection BiasSeroepidemiologic StudiesSubstance Abuse, IntravenousAtribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional225955491413563-7210.1017/S09502688120009211469-4409Epidemiology and infectionopen access