Table 2.

Risk factors associated to HCV seropositivity

Variables	HCV patients	Contacts		p *
		HCV positive	HCV negative
Intravenous drug addiction
Yes	14 (9,3%)	2 (9,5%)	2 (0,9%)	0,004
No	136 (90,7%)	19 (90,5%)	209 (99,1%)
Blood transfusions
Yes	39 (26,0%)	1 (4,8%)	10 (4,8%)	0,996
No	111 (74,0%)	20 (95,2%)	199 (95,2%)
Job at risk of contamination
Yes	7 (4,7%)	1 (4,8%)	8 (3,8%)	0,837
No	142 (95,3%)	20 (95,2%)	200 (96,2%)
Surgical intervention with blood transfusions
Yes	28 (19,0%)	1 (4,8%)	8 (3,8%)	0,826
No	119 (81,0%)	20 (95,2%)	203 (96,2%)
Dental care
Yes	112 (75,7%)	15 (71,4%)	154 (74,4%)	0,768
No	36 (24,3%)	6 (28,6%)	53 (25,6%)
Hemodialytic treatments
Yes	0	0	1 (0,5%)	0,749
No	148 (100%)	21 (100%)	205 (99,5%)
Tattoos
Yes	6 (4,1%)	2 (9,5%)	6 (2,9%)	0,111
No	142 (95,9%)	19 (90,5%)	204 (97,1%)
Stable relationship with partner
Yes	123 (83,1%)	17 (81,0%)	142 (67,9%)	0,219
No	25 (16,9%)	4 (19,0%)	67 (32,1%)
Intercourse with drug addicts
Yes	5 (3,4%)	2 (9,5%)	2 (1,0%)	0,005
No	141 (96,6%)	19(90,5%)	198 (99,0%)
Journey abroad
Yes	62 (41,3%)	8 (38,1%)	74 (35,6%)	0,819
No	88 (58,7%)	13 (61,9%)	134 (64,4%)

* p value refers to tests of significance within the contacts' group