FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRUS INFECTION IN A RURAL AREA OF THANJAVUR DISTRICT, STATE OF TAMILNADU,INDIA – ACROSS -SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Viral hepatitis is a critical public health problem that can cause both acute and chronic liver disease in today's environment. Hepatitis C is a viral infection with a high global incidence and prevalence. HCV could be transmitted through blood. The most frequent serious disease in the world is HCV infection. According to the most recent estimates of disease burden, seroprevalence has increased to 2.8% during the previous 15 years, amounting to >185 million infections worldwide. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in a rural field practice area of Thanjavur medical college to assess the prevalence of HCV and its associated factors. About 130 HCV cases were registered in the PHC of our rural field practice area. We included all the cases in that field practice area. Results: The study comprised 130 HCV patients, all of whom were males (aged 45±18.7 years), with ages ranging from 20 to 70 years. The majority (60%) were over 60 years old. The majority of the responders were between the ages of 60 and 70 years old. There were 97 (65%) males and 53 (35%) females among the 150 participants. In terms of where they lived, 44 (34%) were urban patients and 86 (66%) were rural patients. Factors that are related with chronic HCV are age, gender, residence, occupation, education, marital status, history of hospitalizations, drug addiction, travel abroad were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in risk factors between control and HCV patients. HCV infection is just one of several obstacles that must be overcome in order to provide appropriate medical care to illness patients. The findings of this study show that sera from patients with alcoholic hepatitis interfere with the normal functioning of the liver; chronic alcoholism is the primary reason. Except for those who remain positive for HBsAg, hepatitis C virus infection has little effect on the development of chronic liver disease in heavy drinkers.