[Seroprevalence and risk factor for hepatitis C in Nogales, Sonora]

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection represents a global public health problem, but in Mexico, the Ministry of Health through the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) only reports the distribution of incident cases by state, sex and epidemiological week.

To determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with HCV in beneficiaries of a Family Medicine Unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in the city of Nogales, Sonora, located on the border between Mexico and the United States.

Cross-sectional study that included 145 beneficiaries with rapid HCV antibody test results. Information on risk factors was obtained through direct questioning. To compare groups of reactive and non-reactive patients, Fisher's Exact Test was used and a Logistic Regression model to determine Odds Ratio (OR) values. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A seroprevalence of 2.8% (95%CI: 0.8 - 6.9) was determined and through the logistic regression model it was found that the history of transfusions (OR: 151.2, 95%CI: 5.9 - 3.858.0) and the use of intranasal drugs (OR: 20.81, 95%CI: 1.3 - 331.3) increase the risk of infection.

The seroprevalence of HCV in Nogales is higher than that of the rest of Mexico. Recent studies establish a history of transfusion as a risk factor, but few have explored intranasal drug use.