title: Heterosexual activity as a risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the major causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis, is transmitted by parenteral exposure. Transmission by sexual activity, however, is controversial. Possible behavioral risk factors for HCV infection were studied retrospectively among imprisoned men (n = 201, mean age: 45 years [S.D. 13]) who visited a health service center at a Japanese correctional facility for medical examination. Seropositivity of anti-HCV antibody was disproportionately high (49.8%) in comparison with volunteer blood donors. Among possible risk factors significant on univariate analysis, intravenous drug abuse and Tama-Ire, a Japanese custom of sexual behavior that suggests frequent, aggressive or promiscuous heterosexual activity, proved to be independent risk factors for HCV infection (odds ratio = 7.39, 95% CI = 3.41 - 16.05, P < 0.0001; odds ratio = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.16 - 8.64, P = 0.026, respectively) as shown by logistic regression analysis. The data suggest that HCV may be transmitted by sexual activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Utsumi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumakura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyokawa
mesh_terms: D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies