An apparent lack of epidemiologic association between hepatitis C virus knowledge and the prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a national survey in Egypt.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Egypt has by far the largest hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in the world with 14.7% of the population being antibody positive for HCV. The aim of this study was to examine the association between knowledge of HCV and HCV antibody positivity among the Egyptian population.

Methods

We characterized different measures of HCV knowledge and examined their associations with HCV prevalence, by analyzing a nationally representative database using standard epidemiologic methods. The database, the 2008 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey, included demographic, health, and HCV biomarker information for a sample of over 12,000 individuals.

Results

Basic knowledge of HCV was found to be high, but multiple gaps were identified in the specific knowledge of HCV and i

SUBMITTER: Chemaitelly H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3726777 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature