TY - JOUR
T1 - Endemic hepatitis c virus infection in a seaboard village of southwestern taiwan
AU - Wang, Chih Jane
AU - Chang, Ying Ju
AU - Yeh, Li Ly
AU - Chang, Ting Tung
PY - 2002/12
Y1 - 2002/12
N2 - This study investigated the rate of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection and identified the risk factors associated with a HCV infection at Ma-Sha-Gou, a sea board village in south western Taiwan. In total, 240 subjects were sampled and stratified according to age and sex from 1,200 residents aged 20˜64 years old. HCV-specific antibodies (anti-HCV Ab) in blood specimens were tested for HCV seropositive by the third-generation HCV ELISA system. The subjects, later identified as 152 seropositive and 88 seronegative, were selected for analysis of the correlates of HCV infection. They were interviewed to explore a variety of possible risk factors for HCV infection with a structured questionnaire. The results showed that the anti-HCV age-adjusted seroprevalence was 55.8%. Needle injection was significant to the increased anti-HCV seroprevalence, with multivariate age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of 1.9 and 1.2 ˜ 3.9 respectively. This study identifies Ma-Sha-Gou as an endemic area of HCV infection, in which needle injection from any medical activity was a possible transmission pathway in the village, and suggests the health authorities/community health nurses should give there sidents a comprehensive community-based education program to interrupt HCV transmission.
AB - This study investigated the rate of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection and identified the risk factors associated with a HCV infection at Ma-Sha-Gou, a sea board village in south western Taiwan. In total, 240 subjects were sampled and stratified according to age and sex from 1,200 residents aged 20˜64 years old. HCV-specific antibodies (anti-HCV Ab) in blood specimens were tested for HCV seropositive by the third-generation HCV ELISA system. The subjects, later identified as 152 seropositive and 88 seronegative, were selected for analysis of the correlates of HCV infection. They were interviewed to explore a variety of possible risk factors for HCV infection with a structured questionnaire. The results showed that the anti-HCV age-adjusted seroprevalence was 55.8%. Needle injection was significant to the increased anti-HCV seroprevalence, with multivariate age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of 1.9 and 1.2 ˜ 3.9 respectively. This study identifies Ma-Sha-Gou as an endemic area of HCV infection, in which needle injection from any medical activity was a possible transmission pathway in the village, and suggests the health authorities/community health nurses should give there sidents a comprehensive community-based education program to interrupt HCV transmission.
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U2 - 10.1097/01.JNR.0000347605.83671.17
DO - 10.1097/01.JNR.0000347605.83671.17
M3 - Article
C2 - 2003049588
AN - SCOPUS:0036985290
SN - 1682-3141
VL - 10
SP - 246
EP - 252
JO - Journal of Nursing Research
JF - Journal of Nursing Research
IS - 4
ER -