title: Screening for viral hepatitis C in a young Tunisian population (more than 175,000 recruits).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In front of the considerable impact of the viral hepatitis C, the prevention is more than ever a priority, based essentially on the screening.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We realized an epidemiological study in a population of young recruits with the aim of considering prevalence of anti-hepatitis C Virus (anti-HCV) antibodies, describing its epidemiological evolution and establishing a cartography of the viral hepatitis C in Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological retrospective study of prevalence was realized from the data of the screening of anti-HCV antibodies from 2003 till 2012 of all the young recruits suggested to be incorporated for the national service or suggested to be recruited as career soldier. The study was exhaustive concerning 175 322 young and healthy male adults aged between 20 and 30 years old, originating from all parts of Tunisia. The screening was realized by third and fourth generation ELISA tests then validated by Immunoblot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence was 0.11% and the confirmed prevalence was 0.07%. The positive subjects were mainly between 20 and 25 years old (82.32%) and 91.05% were detected within the framework of their incorporations to the national service. The lowest prevalence was 0.07% in 2004, and the highest was 0.17% in 2011, without a significant tendency in the increase or in the decrease during the period of study (r = 0.857 ; p = 0.564). The screening of anti-VHC antibodies had an unequal geographical distribution according to a North-South decreasing gradient. The highest proportions were registered in the North-West (23.23%) and the District of Tunis (22.73%), contrary to the South-East which was weakly affected (3.54%). The governorates with the highest proportions were Tunis (19.19%), Bizerte (11.62%) and Jendouba (8.59%), the governorates of Monastir and Tataouine were weakly affected (0.51%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the young and male Tunisian population was weak, stable without significant tendency in the increase or in the decrease from 2003 till 2012, characterized by an unequal geographical distribution according to a North-South decreasing gradient.
authors.forename: Sondes
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bizid
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Sassi
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.forename: Afifa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doghri
authors.forename: Chokri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tounsi
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouali
authors.forename: Nasreddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gritli
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdelli
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yedeas
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mrabet