Knowledge, Distribution and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C Infection in High-risk Groups in Guilan Province, Iran

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) are viral infections which attack the liver and can cause both acute and chronic diseases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, risk factors, and prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among high-risk populations of Guilan province, North of Iran. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on three high-risk groups, including nurses, municipal workers and barbers as well as the control group from the general population. Results: A total of 3391 subjects were recruited for this study. The results of the ANOVA test showed that knowledge about HBV and HCV and their components are statistically different among the groups (P value < 0.05). The overall prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was zero in nurses, barbers, and municipal workers, and 0.5% in general population (95% CI 0.14% to 0.86%). The overall prevalence of HCV infection was zero in nurses and barbers, 0.5% in municipal workers (95% CI 0.03 % to 0.97 %), and 0.2% in the general population (95% CI 0.02 % to 0.38 %). Conclusions: Regarding the low prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in high-risk groups, it seems that mandatory vaccination has had a significant role in recruiting or obtaining work permits. However, given the low level of knowledge, it was suggested that authorities should pay more attention in general education and specialized courses for high-risk groups.

Epidemiologic profile of viral hepatitis B and C in North of Iran: Results from PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

“…Higher male HCV positivity, as seen in our study, was also reported previously from Kerman province, Zahedan, and Kavar. However, in opposite to our study, Ghadir et al reported that females were more HCV positive compared to males in the general population of Golestan [41,42]. The nding of one woman who her daughter also was HCV positive and both had the same HCV genotype highlighted the precise role of interfamilial HCV transmission and con rmed the signi cant role of close relatives, which reported previously [43].…”

Epidemiologic profile of viral hepatitis B and C in North of Iran: Results from PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

“…Higher male HC positivity, as seen in our study, was also reported previously from Kerman, Zahedan, and Kavar. However, in opposite to our study, Ghadir et al reported that females were more HC positive compared to males in the general population of Golestan [41,42]. The nding of one woman who her daughter also was HC positive and both had the same HC genotype highlighted the precise role of interfamilial HC transmission and con rmed the signi cant role of close relatives, which was reported previously [43].…”

Prevalence and Detection of Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus in Hemodialysis Patients

“…From the total, 286 were male and 228 were female patients. In this study, the male population of hemodialysis is dominant as compared to the female population of hemodialysis patients (17). In the present study, 75 (50%) male and 75 (50%) female hemodialysis patients were observed.…”