title: Descriptive epidemiology of hepatitis C virus among male heroin abusers in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to explore the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to determine the risk factors for HCV infection among heroin abusers in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study. From November 2004 to February 2005, 577 subjects, including 423 subjects (73.3%) using injectable heroin and 154 subjects (26.7%) using smoked heroin from one male prison located in Taiwan, were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 33.3 +/- 7.9 years (age range 19-65 years). Anti-HCV antibody was tested. A face-to-face interview focusing on sociodemographic information and risk behaviors was addressed. The t test, chi-squared test, and multivariate logistic regression were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibody positivity was 74.9%, with 89.8% among injecting heroin abusers and 33.8% among smoking heroin abusers (P < 0.0001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that needle sharing was independently related to HCV infection (odds ratio = 5.25, 95% confidence interval = 2.48-11.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody positivity among male injecting drug abusers is high in Taiwan. Needle sharing is identified as a potential risk factor for HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Fu
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Chen-Yuang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wu-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nan-Yung
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016485:Needle Sharing; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies