Hepatitis B and C prevalence among the high risk groups of Pakistani population. A cross sectional study

Archives of Public Health

Abdul Rauf Memon³  Kashif Shafique⁵  Ashraf Memon¹  Agha Umer Draz⁴  Mohammad Uzair Abdul Rauf²  Salahuddin Afsar³ 

[1] Sindh Aids Control Program, Karachi, Pakistan

[2] Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

[3] Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

[4] Department of Pathology, Civil Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

[5] Institute of Health & Wellbeing, Public Health, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK

关键词: Pakistan;    High Risk Group;    Hepatitis C;    Hepatitis B;   

Others  :  791196
DOI  :  10.1186/0778-7367-70-9

 received in 2011-11-15, accepted in 2012-04-22,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Hepatitis B and C cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Little is known about the existence of hepatitis B and C among high risk groups of the Pakistani population. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in high risk groups, their comparison and the possible mode of acquisition by obtaining the history of exposure to known risk factors.

Methods

This cross sectional study was carried out in Karachi, from January 2007 to June 2008.

HBsAg and Anti HCV screening was carried out in blood samples collected from four vulnerable or at risk groups which included injecting drug users (IDUs), prisoners, security personnel and health care workers (HCWs). Demographic information was recorded and the possible mode of acquisition was assessed by detailed interview. Logistic regression analysis was conducted using the STATA software.

Results

We screened 4202 subjects, of these, 681 individuals were reactive either with hepatitis B or C. One hundred and thirty three (3.17%) were hepatitis B reactive and 548 (13.0%) were diagnosed with hepatitis C. After adjusting for age, security personnel, prisoners and IV drug users were 5, 3 and 6 times more likely to be hepatitis B reactive respectively as compared to the health care workers. IDUs were 46 times more likely to be hepatitis C positive compared with health care workers.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C was considerably higher in IDUs, prisoners and security personnel compared to HCWs group. Hepatitis C is more prevalent than hepatitis B in all these risk groups. Prevalence of hepatitis C increased with the increase in age. Use of unsterilized syringes, used syringes, body piercing and illicit sexual relations were found to be important associated risk factors for higher prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in these groups.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Memon et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1 .

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