title: [High prevalence of hepatitis C in the district of Botafogo, municipality of Bebedouro, São Paulo State, Brazil, 2007].
abstract: This article aimed to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C in Botafogo, a district of Bebedouro, São Paulo State, Brazil, and investigate possible risk factors. One individual over 18 years of age was selected from each household to answer a questionnaire on socio-demographic variables and factors associated with hepatitis C. Blood samples were also drawn for immunoenzymatic tests. Positive HCV-antibody samples were submitted to viral RNA detection. HCV prevalence was 8.8% (95%CI: 5.8-11.7), and independent variables associated with risk of infection were: male gender, time of local residence > 30 years, and history of injected medication using non-disposable material, sterilized by boiling. The high prevalence of hepatitis C infection in this relatively isolated rural population appears to result from previous exposure to injections with inadequately sterilized material, with some evidence suggesting a specific elderly pharmacy employee who customarily applied such injections and may have been a chronic HCV carrier.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. sabrinaferrao@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sabrina de Brito Ramalho Luz
authors.initials: Sde B
authors.lastname: Ferrão
authors.forename: José Fernando de Castro
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Clara Fumiko Tachibana
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Afonso Dinis Costa
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Passos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies