Hepatitis C virus infection in Chicago women with or at risk for HIV infection: evidence for sexual transmission.
OBJECTIVE
The importance of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is unclear. We attempted to define its role in women with or at risk for HIV infection.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain if high-risk sexual behavior was independently associated with HCV infection.


METHODS
Risk factors were assessed cross-sectionally in Chicago women newly enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Women who had (n = 243) or were at risk for HIV infection (n = 53) were tested for HCV antibodies (Ab).


RESULTS
Of 296 women, 123 (42%) were HCV Ab positive; prevalence was 90% in women who injected drugs (IDU) compared with 12% in noninjectors (odds ratio [OR], 64.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 29.9 to 137.0). A multivariate model showed associations with IDU (OR, 110.3, 95% CI, 33.3 to 365.8), prior gonorrhea (OR, 3.6, 95% CI, 1.4 to 8.9), and sex with a male IDU (OR, 2.7, 95% CI, 1.1 to 7.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Injection drug use is the strongest predictor of HCV infection, but sexual risk factors are also independently associated.
Hershow
R C
RC
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health and College of Medicine, 60612, USA.
Kalish
L A
LA
Sha
B
B
Till
M
M
Cohen
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies