title: Risk factors of hepatitis C infection among Egyptian blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surveillance of infectious disease markers in the blood donor population is important in recognizing trends in prevalence and incidence of transfusion related infections in asymptomatic volunteer blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross sectional study. Samples were collected from volunteer blood donors and questionnaire was designed to collect the risk factors data. The prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies among 1,000 apparently healthy blood donors were determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of virus C hepatic infection and to illustrate the various socio-economic, behavioural and medical factors related to infection with Hepatitis C (HCV) among apparently healthy individuals. It contributed to analysis of the particularities of Egyptian blood donors and helped to better understand the challenges and solutions of blood safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HCV was 16.8%. There was an association of positive anti-HCV test with socio-demographic, medical and behavioural risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided comprehensive and reliable information on the possible risk factors affecting spread of Hepatitis C in the area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Studies and Research, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Hala_Awadalla@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hala Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Awadalla
authors.forename: Mostafa Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ragab
authors.forename: Nozat Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Mahmoud Abd Hamid
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Osman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies