Prevalence, genotypes and factors associated with HCV infection among prisoners in Northeastern Brazil

Table 4 Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of 422 prisoners by serologic hepatitis C virus status, Sergipe, Brazil

Variable	HCV (-)	HCV (+)	P-value
Gender (male)	295 (72.1%)	8 (61.5%)	0.531
Mean age (yrs)	32.56 (8.8)	36.77 (6.4)	0.019
Ethnicity (white)	137 (33.6%)	4 (30.8%)	0.833
Christian religion	314 (76.8%)	10 (76.9%)	0.99
Family income (R$)	777 (1205)	684 (472)	0.923
Years of schooling (mean)	6.5 (5.4)	6.4 (2.9)	0.565
Mean incarcerated time (mo)	43.5 (40)	30.6 (30)	0.253
Previous imprisonment	139 (34.0%)	11 (84.6%)	< 0.001
History of alcohol use	298 (73.0%)	10 (73.9.0%)	0.756
CAGE (mean)	1.00 (1.2)	1.69 (1.2)	0.033
Household contact with HCV carrier	17 (4.2%)	4 (30.8%)	0.002
History of tattooing	244 (59.7%)	13 (100%)	0.003
Tattooing inside prison	110 (27.0%)	6 (46.2%)	0.202
History of piercing	39 (9.5%)	-	0.62
Previous blood transfusion	39 (9.5%)	-	0.62
Previously shared razors, toothbrushes, nail trimmers or scissors	241 (58.9%)	8 (61.5%)	0.85
Getting wounded by a sharp weapon in a struggle	129 (31.5%)	3 (23.1%)	0.762
Total	409 (96.9%)	13 (3.1%)

HCV: Hepatitis C virus; CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty e Eye-opener.