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Risk factors for hepatitis C infection among adult patients in Kedah state, Malaysia: A case-control study

Mohd Azri Mohd Suan1,2, Salmiah Md Said1, Poh Ying Lim1

  • 1Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Plos One
|October 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C infection risk factors in Malaysia include blood transfusions before 1992, injection drug use, and imprisonment. Tattooing, multiple sexual partners, and secondary education also increased odds of hepatitis C.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C infection poses a significant global public health challenge.
  • Identifying specific risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adult patients in Kedah, Malaysia.
  • To determine independent predictors of HCV infection through a case-control study.

Main Methods:

  • A matched, hospital-based case-control study was conducted with 255 case-control pairs.
  • Data on demographics and risk factors were collected via self-administered questionnaires.
  • Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Key risk factors independently associated with Hepatitis C included blood transfusion before 1992 (AOR=6.99), injection drug use (AOR=6.60), and imprisonment (AOR=4.58).
  • Other significant factors were tattooing (AOR=3.73), multiple sexual partners (AOR=2.06), piercing (AOR=1.71), and secondary education (AOR=1.92).
  • No association was found with healthcare occupation, needle-prick injury, surgery, hemodialysis, acupuncture, cupping, or contact sports.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C infection in this population is multifactorial.
  • Risk is elevated by historical blood transfusions, injection drug use, imprisonment, tattooing, multiple sexual partners, piercing, and lower educational attainment.

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