Socio-demographic association with confirmed hepatitis C virus infection: A cross-sectional analysis from a teaching institute

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic blood-borne disease and is more commonly associated with chronic active hepatitis leading to cirrhosis, hepato-cellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. 160 consecutive screening positive (Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay positive) Hepatitis C samples were tested by HCV RNA Real Time-PCR for confirmation. Prevalence of confirmed hepatitis C among screening positive patient in the present study was found to be 24.4%. Vaccinated individual with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B had significant association with PCR positivity in screening positive Hepatitis C patient ( < 0.05). IV drug users and patient having multiple sex partners have significant association with PCR positivity among screening positive Hepatitis C patients ( < 0.05). Due to the lack of an effective vaccine and the increased risk of serious complications, it is important to focus on prevention and early detection of HCV.