Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Jun 2013)

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in Central-West Brazil

  • Thais Augusto Marinho,
  • Carmen Luci Rodrigues Lopes,
  • Sheila Araujo Teles,
  • Nadia Rubia Silva Reis,
  • Megmar Aparecida dos Santos Carneiro,
  • Andreia Alves de Andrade,
  • Regina Maria Bringel Martins

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762013000400021
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 108, no. 4
pp. 519 – 522

Abstract

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The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population of recyclable waste collectors (n = 431) was assessed using a cross-sectional survey in all 15 cooperatives in the city of Goiânia, Central-West Brazil. The HCV prevalence was 1.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.6-3.6) and a history of sexually transmitted infections was independently associated with this infection. HCV RNA (corresponding to genotype 1; subtypes 1a and 1b) was detected in five/seven anti-HCV-positive samples. Although the study population reported a high rate (47.3%) of sharps and needle accidents, HCV infection was not more frequent in recyclable waste collectors than in the general Brazilian population.

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