Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among young adult males in Pakistan
Abstract
Description
791-797
This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 military hospitals in Pakistan from January 2004 to December 2005. Young adult males with age range 17-22 years from different districts of Pakistan were screened for hepatitis B surface antigens [HBsAg] and anti-hepatitis C antibodies [anti-HCV]. Out of 5707 young men tested, 95 [1.70%] were positive for anti-HCV and 167 [2.93%] for HBsAg. Although both viruses were distributed evenly throughout Pakistan, seroprevalence was higher in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh than in North-West Frontier province and Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir provinces. Health education to the general public, including barbers, would be an important tool for control/preventive measures
This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at 2 military hospitals in Pakistan from January 2004 to December 2005. Young adult males with age range 17-22 years from different districts of Pakistan were screened for hepatitis B surface antigens [HBsAg] and anti-hepatitis C antibodies [anti-HCV]. Out of 5707 young men tested, 95 [1.70%] were positive for anti-HCV and 167 [2.93%] for HBsAg. Although both viruses were distributed evenly throughout Pakistan, seroprevalence was higher in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh than in North-West Frontier province and Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir provinces. Health education to the general public, including barbers, would be an important tool for control/preventive measures