DefinePK

Abstract

Summary


To determine  the prevalence and routes of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Hafizabad. Pakistan, we collected sera in 1993 from a  geographicaEly based random sample of residents, and in 1994 identified 15 HCV.infected individuals (cases) and 67 age and sex matched uninfected individuals (controls).
Initiatly we approached 504 households, and collected serum from a randomly selected household member in 309 (64%). Twenty persons (6.5%) had anti-HCV anlibody; 31% had hepatitis B core antibodies, and 4 3% had hepatitis B surface antigen. In the case-control study, persons who received more lherapeulic injections (categorized as averaging 1. 2-4. 5-9 or >10 injections per year in 1he previous 10 years) were more likely to be infec1ed  with HCV (odds ratio 0, 1.5,  2.5 and  6.9  respectively. P =  0.008) compared   to persons  averaging 0 injections per  year. Efforts to limit therapeutic injections to only those that are medically  indicated  and  that use sterite equipment  are  essential  in order  to prevent transmission of HCV.