Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Young Thai Men

Epidemiologic studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection arc unusual in developing countries. especially Thailand We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for HCV among military conscripts, including a sample of 5,246 men (1 30 sample). and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 positive men (N = 500) between 2005 and 2008 The HCV prevalence was 2 2% in the sampled group and 8 4% in HIV-1 sero-positives Among the sampled group. HIV-1 infection. Injection drug use (IDU) history, and unsafe Injections were associated with HCV infection: adjusted prevalence rate ratios [RRs: 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were 3 7 (1 04-12 77), 1 9 (1 04-3 54), and 1 8 (1 02-3 11), respectively Among HIV-1 sero-positives, an IDU history and residence in southern Thailand were associated with HCV prevalence, adjusted RRs (95% CIs) were 35 (1 71-7.24) and 2 6 (1.18-5.61). respectively Public health measures to prevent HCV in Thailand should focus on reducing injection drug use and other exposures to unsafe injections among young Thai men