Exposure characteristics of acute hepatitis E patients and age-matched controls.

NB. Conservative case definition includes only individuals found to be anti-HEV IgM seropositive by the AFRIMS assay. The liberal case definition includes individuals found positive by either AFRIMS or the MBS assay.
*“None” is not shown, comparison of livestock ownership uses “None” as the reference category (OR = 1.0).
**Recent is defined as in the three months prior to the onset of illness/interview
†Defined as the number of times eating food prepared outside the home in an average week.
§p<0.005, Univariate conditional (fixed effects) logistic regression (CLR) comparing cases and controls.
‡“Don't know” (n<5) responses not shown/included in analysis.
||p<0.05, Univariate conditional (fixed effects) logistic regression comparing cases and controls.
††In an age category stratified analysis (≤15, 16–30,>30) only the≤15 group remained significantly at risk, likely due to low n's in each age category.
‡‡This association likely reflects a local practice of seeking initial care from traditional “faith” healers early during hepatitis-like illnesses.