title: Geographical variations of risk factors associated with HCV infection in drug users in southwestern China.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a global public health problem. Many studies have been conducted to identify risk factors for HCV infection. However, some of these studies reported inconsistent results. Using data collected from 11 methadone clinics, we fit both a non-spatial logistical regression and a geographically weighted logistic regression to analyse the association between HCV infection and some factors at the individual level. This study enrolled 5401 patients with 30·0% HCV infection prevalence. The non-spatial logistical regression found that injection history, drug rehabilitation history and senior high-school education or above were related to HCV infection; and being married was negatively associated with HCV infection. Using the spatial model, we found that Yi ethnicity was negatively related to HCV infection in 62·0% of townships, and being married was negatively associated with HCV infection in 81·0% of townships. Senior high-school education or above was positively associated with HCV infection in 55·2% of townships of the Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The spatial model offers better understanding of the geographical variations of the risk factors associated with HCV infection. The geographical variations may be useful for customizing intervention strategies for local regions for more efficient allocation of limited resources to control transmission of HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Liangshan Prefecture,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Q X
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xuhui Center for Disease Prevention and Control,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Liangshan Prefecture,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics,University of Florida,Gainesville,FL,USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute,University of Florida,Gainesville,FL,USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Liangshan Prefecture,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,College of Public Health and Health Professions,University of Florida,Gainesville,FL,USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coatsworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Liangshan Prefecture,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,School of Public Health,Fudan University,Shanghai,China.
authors.forename: Q W
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Drug users; geographical variation; geographically weighted logistic regression; hepatitis C virus