title: [Rate of infection and related risk factors on hepatitis C virus in three counties of Jiangsu province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rate among general population in Jiangsu province and to analyze the main risk factors for HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects in 3 counties were surveyed by stratified cluster random sampling in the National Major Science and Technology Projects demonstration area in Jiangsu province. Interview was carried out with uniformly- designed questionnaires. Blood samples were collected and anti-HCV tested. Data were analysed under SPSS 13.0. Case-control study was conducted on two groups with subjects under 1:4 matching by sex, age, village of residence and status of HCV infection. Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis was then performed to analyze the risk factors for HCV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of anti-HCV was higher in females (0.965%, 95%CI:0.899%-1.035%) than in males (0.572%, 95%CI:0.517%-0.632%). Significant differences were noticed among the positive rates of anti-HCV in the three counties (0.131%, 95%CI:0.103%-0.164%;0.316%, 95%CI: 0.268%-0.370%; 2.173% , 95% CI:2.039%-2.315% , respectively). Peak prevalence of anti-HCV (1.577%, 95%CI:1.425%-1.740%) was observed among persons at 50-59 years of age. Bottom rate (0.161%, 95%CI:0.125%-0.204%) was observed below 30 years of age. High anti-HCV positive rate was detected in people with lower education background or belonged to 'floating population'. Factors as having histories of hospitalization (OR = 3.049, 95% CI:1.322-7.036), blood transfusion (OR = 14.319, 95%CI:2.318-88.459) or sharing razor (OR = 3.604, 95%CI:1.096-11.851) were risk factors of HCV infection in the area with the lowest anti-HCV positive rate. In another county, factor as having histories of 'blood products transfusion' (OR = 7.202, 95% CI:1.170-44.310) appeared important while in the third county, having history of 'blood donation' (OR = 7.496, 95%CI:6.121- 9.180); 'blood transfusion' (OR = 2.305, 95%CI:1.578-3.369) and 'invasive physical examination' (OR = 1.258, 95% CI:1.021-1.549) appeared to be important. Age seemed a risk factor for HCV infection. "Sharing razor" was a specifically important risk factor among the 30- year-olds. "Having received acupuncture" was noticed a risk factor only among people at 50-59 years of age while "Having received invasive physical examination" was important in the 50-59 and 60-69 year-olds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High anti-HCV positive rate was observed in people at middle of aged population, as well as in those with poor education or under 'floating'. Unsafe blood donation or having received blood-product transfusion might be the risk factors in the last decades. Factors as sharing razor, having received acupuncture or invasive examination might be specifically risky in different populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of the National Major Science and Technology Projects, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Chin.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Fenyang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Changjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Yefei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of the National Major Science and Technology Projects, Taixing Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Minquan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of the National Major Science and Technology Projects, Zhangjiagang Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Guomin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Danyang Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of the National Major Science and Technology Projects, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Chin.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Infectious Disease Prevention and Control; Department of the National Major Science and Technology Projects, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanjing 210009, Chin. Email: jszxj@jscdc.cn.
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhai
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors