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Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus in a hospital based general population in south India

S Bhattacharya1, S Badrinath, A Hamide

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry - 605 006, India.

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
|July 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence in a South Indian hospital was 4.8%. Testing included 661 individuals, with no significant gender difference found in HCV antibody prevalence.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health concern.
  • Understanding regional seroprevalence is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
  • Hospital-based studies provide valuable insights into specific population demographics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a general hospital-based population.
  • To analyze HCV seroprevalence in relation to gender within the study cohort.
  • To assess HCV antibody status among healthcare workers in a tertiary care setting.

Main Methods:

  • A third-generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was employed for HCV antibody detection.
  • The study included 661 individuals attending a tertiary care hospital in Pondicherry, South India.
  • The cohort comprised the general hospital population and 36 healthcare workers.

Main Results:

  • The overall HCV seroprevalence was 4.8% (95% CI: 3.2-6.4%).
  • Seroprevalence was 5.9% in males (95% CI: 3.5-8.3%) and 3.3% in females (95% CI: 1.2-5.4%).
  • No statistically significant difference in HCV seroprevalence was observed between males and females (p>0.05); no healthcare workers tested positive.

Conclusions:

  • The study indicates a moderate seroprevalence of HCV in the hospital-based population of Pondicherry.
  • Gender does not appear to be a significant risk factor for HCV infection in this population.
  • The absence of HCV antibodies among healthcare workers suggests effective infection control measures or low occupational risk in this setting.

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