Hepatitis C virus infection at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt: seroprevalence and associated risk factors.
Because many persons with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are asymptomatic, population based serologic studies are needed to estimate the prevalence of infection and to develop and evaluate prevention efforts. A sample of 1422 individuals was included in the study by using multistage sampling technique. Their age ranged from 4-78 years with a mean age (34.7 +/- 18.5), 782 were males (55%) and 640 were females (45%). Exposures and demographic characteristics were obtained through a predesigned questionnaire. Antibody to HCV was assessed using micro-particle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) enzyme assay by IMX, and the HCV RNA was tested by Real-time PCR technique using ABI Prism 7700 system. The seroprevalence of antibodies to HCV were 23.4% and 27.4% in urban and rural areas respectively, with an overall prevalence (25.8%). This reflects prior HCV infection but not necessarily a current liver disease. Prevalence was higher among males than females and increased sharply with age, from 4.8% in those < 20 years old to (41.9%) in older ages (> or = 40 years). Those who were not educated and farmers had a significantly high prevalence. The significant predictors of HCV infection were previous parenteral therapy for schistosomiasis (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 3.6-7.9), among those over 20 years of age (3.5, 2.18-5.8), blood transfusion (4.1, 2.4-6.9), invasive procedures (surgery and endoscopy), and use of contaminated syringes and needles. Also, shaving at community barbers added significance to the model. Exposures not significantly related to HCV seropositivity were gender, active infection with Schistosoma mansoni, sutures or intravenous and urinary catheterization, water pipe "goza" smoking in group.
el-Sadawy
Mahmoud
M
Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig.
Ragab
Hosnia
H
el-Toukhy
Hanan
H
el-Mor
Abd el-Latif
Ael-L
Mangoud
Amal M
AM
Eissa
Mostafa H
MH
Afefy
Afefy F
AF
el-Shorbagy
Eman
E
Ibrahem
Ibrahem A
IA
Mahrous
Seham
S
Abdel-Monem
Amal
A
Sabee
Essam I
EI
Ismail
Alaa
A
Morsy
Tosson A
TA
Etewa
Samia
S
Nor Edin
Essam
E
Mostafa
Yousry
Y
Abouel-Magd
Yousry
Y
Hassan
Mostafa I
MI
Lakouz
Khalid
K
Abdel-Aziz
Khalid
K
el-Hady
Gaber
G
Saber
Mahmoud
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral