Frequency of Viral Hepatitis (B & C) among Homeless Populations in Omdurman Region- Sudan

Abstract

Background: 170 million people have chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV), which increases their risk of acquiring liver disease, cirrhosis, or cancer. As there is currently no vaccine against HCV, it is crucial to be aware of how to prevent getting sick again. Homeless people were at a greater risk because they were unhygienic, inadequate nutrition, and low levels of education. Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk factors and frequencies of both HBV and HCV among the homeless population. Materials and Methods: 5 ml of blood from 97 people was drawn under sterile conditions while taking labeling into consideration. The blood was then allowed to clot, and serum separated. The ELISA approach was used to measure the HBV and HCV immunoglobulins using a semi-automated analyzer. Using a sandwich-based enzyme-immunoassay to detect. Results: 39.2% of people had HBV infection, and 60.8% of tests came back negative. While 96.9% had negative results and 3.1% had positive results for HCV. Conclusions: The findings support the notion that there is a HBV infection is substantially more common among the homeless population, which is consistent with the increased occurrence of these diseases in recent years not only in Omdurman, Sudan but also globally. But there was no noticeable difference in the HCV cases.