Hepatitis C in a community in Upper Egypt: I. Cross-sectional survey.
The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in a cross-sectional survey in a village in Upper Egypt. Exposure and demographic characteristics were obtained through a questionnaire. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was assessed using a second generation enzyme immunoassay, and the presence of HCV RNA was tested using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Collection of blood samples was targeted at those > or = 5 years old, and obtained from 62.8%. This report describes the community, the HCV infection characteristics of the subjects, and evaluates some factors associated with presence of anti-HCV. Of the 6,031 participants, 522 (8.7%) were anti-HCV positive. Prevalence was higher among males than females (11.3% versus 6.5%; P < 0.001). It was greater among those > 30 years of age than among those < or = 30 years of age (20.0% versus 3.6%; P < 0.001). Those who were less educated, farmed, provided health care, and were currently married had a significantly higher anti-HCV prevalence than those who were not; however, these associations were not significant after adjusting for age. Although active infections with Schistosoma haematobium were not associated with anti-HCV, a history of past infection was (age-adjusted risk ratio [RR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8, 2.4); 134 persons who had a history of receiving parenteral anti-schistosomal therapy had a higher age-adjusted RR (3.0; 95% CI = 2.5, 3.7) for anti-HCV than those who did not. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in 62.8% of the anti-HCV positive subjects, without significant variation by age, gender, education, or marital status. The prevalence of anti-HCV in Upper Egypt is high, albeit lower than in Lower Egypt, with continuing but limited transmission indicated by the lower prevalence in residents < or = 30 years old.
Nafeh
M A
MA
Hepatitis C Prevention Project, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
Medhat
A
A
Shehata
M
M
Mikhail
N N
NN
Swifee
Y
Y
Abdel-Hamid
M
M
Watts
S
S
Fix
A D
AD
Strickland
G T
GT
Anwar
W
W
Sallam
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral