Prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Chengdu, China.

The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity among blood donors from Chengdu, China, and to determine risk factors associated with infection. In this study, data were collected from volunteer blood donors between July 2006 and June 2007. Anti-HCV test was performed in 119,518 donors. To identify risk factors associated with HCV infections a case-control study was conducted in 305 unique HCV-seropositive blood donors and 610 seronegative donors matched for age and sex. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression. The population attributable risk (PAR) to risk factor was estimated according to the Bruzzi's formula. The prevalence of anti-HCV positivity was 0.53% (95% CI: 0.489-0.572%). The final multivariate model included the following independent HCV risk factors: razor sharing (OR=29.16; 95% CI: 12.89-66.00), blood transfusion (OR=20.84; 95% CI: 3.76-115.45), acupuncture (OR=8.01; 95% CI: 3.16-20.30), a history of hospitalization, injections >10 years earlier, a family history of hepatitis B, dental treatment, and ear piercing. The PAR of risk factors are 68.4%, 6.3%, 14.1%, 23.1%, 29.5%, 29.3%, 38.9%, and 27.8%, respectively, and the total PAR is 98.3%. Infection with HCV among blood donors in Chengdu is associated with iatrogenic risk factors and beauty treatment-related risk. Razor sharing is an important risk factor for HCV infection. These results indicate that infection control measures in healthcare settings may reduce the burden of HCV infection and there is a need for development of effective educational programs to improve HCV knowledge among beauty culture professionals, barber cosmetologists, and the general public to avoid risk behaviors.

[Effectiveness of an intervention on sharing razors among rural migrant construction workers].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a behavioral intervention designed to reduce share use of razors among rural migrant workers. METHODS: A total of 591 rural migrant construction workers in Chengdu were recruited in a randomized controlled trial. Information and skill training was provided to the intervention group to encourage them to refuse share use of razors. RESULTS: Sixty days after the intervention, 61.38% of workers in the intervention group had refused share use of razors in barber shops, significantly more than those in the control group (22.26%). The odds ratio was 3.647 (95% CI = 2.242, 5.934). The workers in the intervention group showed better knowledge on the concept, transmission and prevention of blood-borne infectious diseases than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Behavioral intervention is effective in reducing share use of razors in barber shops among rural migrant workers. The intervention may need to be improved for sustaining a long term result.