Syed Abdul Mujeeb|Mark S. Pearce
Temporal trends in hepatitis B and C infection in family blood donors from interior Sindh, Pakistan
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center|Newcastle University
hepatitis b hbv c hcv infections serious global national public health problem earlier studies reported increasing rates hepatitis infection pakistan particularly rural areas pakistan active surveillance program monitor trends infections objective study verify trend blood donors rural sindh area countrythe study analysed data blood donors interior sindh donated blood jpmc blood bank january 1 2004 september 15 2007 hbsag status determined using hbsag serodia kit antibodies hcv using detect hcv v3 kit samples repeatedly reactive hbsag antihcv considered positive hbv hcv infection respectivelythe overall seroprevalence hbv infection among donors 62 95 ci 5569 change significantly study period overall seroprevalence hbv infection literate blood donors 57 95 ci 4768 prevalence decreased significantly group study period p 005 significant trends seroprevalence hbv infection seen stratified analyses overall seroprevalence hcv among donors 75 95 ci 6883 increased significantly study period 72 95 ci 5887 2004 89 95 ci 74106 2007 p 002 significant increase seroprevalence particularly seen literate p 003 nonfirst time p 001 sindhi speaking p 001 donorsour study finds steady increase prevalence hcv infection blood donors interior sindh 2004 2007 contrary decreasing prevalence hbv found particularly literate blood donors may need rural communitybased epidemiological studies identify determinants spread hcv infection also limiting spread hbv infection particularly literate blood donor population