Heterosexual activity as a risk factor for the transmission of hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the major causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis, is transmitted by parenteral exposure. Transmission by sexual activity, however, is controversial. Possible behavioral risk factors for HCV infection were studied retrospectively among imprisoned men (n = 201, mean age: 45 years [S.D. 13]) who visited a health service center at a Japanese correctional facility for medical examination. Seropositivity of anti-HCV antibody was disproportionately high (49.8%) in comparison with volunteer blood donors. Among possible risk factors significant on univariate analysis, intravenous drug abuse and Tama-Ire, a Japanese custom of sexual behavior that suggests frequent, aggressive or promiscuous heterosexual activity, proved to be independent risk factors for HCV infection (odds ratio = 7.39, 95% CI = 3.41 - 16.05, P < 0.0001; odds ratio = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.16 - 8.64, P = 0.026, respectively) as shown by logistic regression analysis. The data suggest that HCV may be transmitted by sexual activity.

Risk factors for monoinfections and coinfections with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in northern Spanish prisoners

“…The overall prevalence of HIV infection was 14n9%, lower than those reported in other Spanish prisons [17,33], although this figure was higher than those found in other western countries [8,31,[34][35][36][37][38]. The frequency of HBV and HCV was within the range found in western countries [8,17,39,40].…”

Correlates of hepatitis C virus seropositivity in prison inmates: a meta-analysis

“…Of these, 16 enrolled more than 500 inmates;5 10 13 – 17 19 28 – 30 33 34 40 41 44 12 enrolled between 500 and 100 inmates;2 11 18 22 – 26 35 38 43 46 and two enrolled fewer than 100 inmates 20 31. Of the 30 studies, 24 were cross-sectional in design, and six were longitudinal 2 5 10 13 14 22.…”

“…Taking the proportion of IDU into account, the between-study variance decreased from 0.382 to 0.371. The only studies to report OR adjusted for intravenous drug use were those of Hellard et al 30(OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 5.2), Babudieri et al 15(OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.26 to 2.91), Holsen et al 31(OR 5.44; 95% CI 1.68 to 9.21) and Utzumi et al 46(OR 1.57; 95% CI 0.63 to 3.92). A meta-analysis of these studies yielded a pooled OR of 2.47 (95% CI 1.56 to 3.91)(data not shown).…”

Hepatitis C risk factors in Iranian volunteer blood donors: A case–control study

“…Blood transfusion, 6–20 sexual promiscuity or prostitution, 8–10,15 , 16,21–26 and intravenous drug abuse 6–8,11 , 13 , 15–19,23 , 25–32 have repeatedly been found by studies worldwide to be independent risk factors of HCV infection, although some studies failed to prove this 30,33 , 34 . Other risk factors such as cocaine snorting, 8,21 ear piercing in men, 8,21 lower education level, 17,34 , 35 male gender, 14,16 tattooing, 8,9 , 12,14 , 15,30 , 32 hospitalization, 15 surgical procedures, 6 high‐risk job, 30,31 and non‐sexual contact with an anti‐HCV‐positive subject 36 are also identified as risk factors in some studies.…”