本研究目的在調查位於臺灣西南沿海村落－馬沙溝感染C型肝炎之盛行率及其可能之危險因子。從馬沙溝之20歲至64歲居民共1200位中，藉由性別與年齡分層抽樣選出240位研究對象，並以第三代C型肝炎抗體免疫檢驗試劑，檢驗240位居民C型肝炎抗體，陽性者152位及陰性者88位。以結構式問卷透過受訓訪員晤談，以收集C型肝炎傳染之相關危險因子。C型肝炎感染以年齡標準化呈現盛行率，進一步採邏輯複迴歸分析該地區傳染C型肝炎之危險因子。研究結果顯示馬沙溝C型肝炎年齡標準化盛行率高達55.8%，明顯高於臺灣C型肝炎平均盛行率。以邏輯迴歸模式調整年齡後，此村居民有打針經驗者傳染到C型肝炎的危險性是無此經驗者的1.9倍(95% CI: 1.2~3.9)。根據本研究結果可知，馬沙溝之C型肝炎傳染乃屬地區性流行，其途徑可能經居民在尋求醫療性打針時而傳染。建議針對此傳染源之相關途徑與危險因子，透過社區公衛護士提出並推動完善的C型肝炎防治計劃，期望有效中斷該村C型肝炎傳染之流行。

　　　　　This study investigated the rate of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection and identified the risk factors associated with a HCV infection at Ma-Sha-Gou, a seaboard village in southwestern Taiwan. In total, 240 subjects were sampled and stratified according to age and sex from 1,200 residents aged 20~64 years old. HCV-specific antibodies (anti-HCV Ab) in blood specimens were tested for HCV seropositive by the third-generation HCV ELISA system. The subjects, later identified as 152 seropositive and 88 seronegative, were selected for analysis of the correlates of HCV infection. They were interviewed to explore a variety of possible risk factors for HCV infection with a structured questionnaire. The results showed that the anti-HCV age-adjusted seroprevalence was 55.8%. Needle injection was significant to the increased anti-HCV seroprevalence, with multivariate age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) of 1.9 and 1.2 ~ 3.9 respectively. This study identifies Ma-Sha-Gou as an endemic area of HCV infection, in which needle injection from any medical activity was a possible transmission pathway in the village, and suggests the health authorities/community health nurses should give the residents a comprehensive community-based education program to interrupt HCV transmission.