Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Punjab (India): A Community-based Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has not been evaluated in northern India. We studied the prevalence of and risk factors for HCV infection in a community in northern India. Methods: We conducted a 1-day community-based HCV screening program in a town of northern India in Punjab. Local newspapers were used to invite subjects to come in for free HCV testing. A questionnaire of various risk factors was also administered to each subject by trained staff. Results: Two hundred and twenty six subjects attended the screening program. The overall prevalence of HCV seropositivity was 50.8%. The prevalence of HCV infection was similar in men and women ((54.3% vs. 45.3%, P=0.21) and was highest in subjects between 30-39 years (30.4%) of age. Religion, alcohol intake, smoking, history of injections, surgery and blood transfusion were not associated with HCV infection. Age as well as the number of pregnancies did not correlate with the HCV infection. Conclusion: This community based screening program demonstrated high prevalence of HCV infection in this part of country. HCV infection was more prevalent in the age group between 30-39 years. HCV infection was not associated with any of the risk factors evaluated. However, a larger population based study is required to understand the various risk factors.