Modelling the spread of hepatitis C via commercial tattoo parlours: implications for public health interventions

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a serious infection caused by a blood-borne virus. It is a contagious disease spreading via a variety of transmission mechanisms including contaminated tattoo equipment. Effectively regulating commercial tattoo parlours can greatly reduce this risk. This paper models the cost-ef...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:OR Spectrum 2008-04, Vol.30 (2), p.269-288
Main Authors: Behrens, Doris A., Rauner, Marion S., Caulkins, Jonathan P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIDS
Blood transfusions
Body piercing
Business and Management
Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control
Optimization
Cost analysis
Disease control
Disease prevention
Drug use
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Infections
Intervention
Medical research
Operations research
Operations Research/Decision Theory
Public health
Regular Article
Studies
Tattoos
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Description
Summary:Hepatitis C (HCV) is a serious infection caused by a blood-borne virus. It is a contagious disease spreading via a variety of transmission mechanisms including contaminated tattoo equipment. Effectively regulating commercial tattoo parlours can greatly reduce this risk. This paper models the cost-effectiveness and optimal timing of such interventions, and parameterises the model with data for Vienna, Austria. This dynamic model of the contagious spread of HCV via tattooing and other mechanisms accounts for secondary infections and shows that regulating tattoo parlours as done in Vienna, Austria in 2003, is a cost-saving intervention.
ISSN:0171-6468
1436-6304
DOI:10.1007/s00291-007-0090-7