Muhammad Khurram, Zubair Hasan, Amar Ul Ala Butt, Faheem M.
Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among health care workers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Rawal Med J Jan ;28(1):7-11.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in health care workers of public sector hospitals in Islamabad capital territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi division. It was a cross sectional, observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY. DHQ Teaching Hospital Rawalpindi from July to December 2002. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Out of 4300 health care workers from 27 secondary and tertiary care hospitals, a sample of 217 was selected with confidence interval of 95%. Anti HCV antibodies were checked in blood samples of subjects for seroprevalence estimation. Each subject was interviewed regarding risk factors for acquiring HCV infection other than needle stick injuries. RESULTS: Of the 217 health care workers 64.5% (n=140) were male and 33.5% (n=77) were female, their mean age being of 32.9 ± 8.4 years. Anti-HCV antibodies were positive in 6% (n=13) subjects. History of dental treatment was significant risk factor for acquiring HCV infection (p-value 0.03). CONCLUSION: Seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in health care workers of ICT and Rawalpindi division is 6%.

USER COMMENTS

This article sounds good but it is suggested to put more emphasis on the results and conclusions in the abstraact rather than on place and methodology of study as majority of readers don't go beyond abstract to read the full articls.
Posted by: abbottayub on Jul 2003

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