Risk factors for hepatitis C on the Texas-Mexico border.
OBJECTIVE
Our clinical experience suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in this Texas-Mexico border area might have features, especially risk factors, that differ from some other areas of the United States. Therefore, we conducted a prospective analysis to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors, and certain other characteristics of HCV infection in the El Paso region.


METHODS
During a 2-yr period, individuals with a positive HCV serology were considered as "patients" and those with a negative hepatitis serology panel were "controls." A questionnaire survey was conducted in person or by telephone with individuals (patients and controls) who agreed to participate in the interview process.


RESULTS
We identified and interviewed 320 patients and 307 controls. All of the contacted patients and controls agreed to be interviewed. Many established and potential risk factors for HCV transmission were documented in the patients. Furthermore, multiple potential risk factors were often present in individual patients. However, on multivariate analysis only injection drug use, blood transfusion, and tattooing were found to be significant independent risk factors for HCV infection. In the great majority of patients, tattoos were applied by friends (including gang members), inmates in jail/prison, or self, rather than commercial parlors.


CONCLUSIONS
Tattooing is an independent risk factor for HCV infection in this United States-Mexico border area. The role of nonsterile tattooing practices in HCV transmission merits additional examination in regard to precise risk settings, frequency, and mechanisms of infection.
Hand
W Lee
WL
Department of Research Development, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas 79905, USA.
Vasquez
Yvonne
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology