Abstract

Objective: We ought to determine the Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) amongst youths (15-35years) in the Mount Mary Hospital Buea.

Methods: using a cross-sectional laboratory-based study design, a total of 97 participants were tested. Questionnaires were also given to the participants. Results: Of 97 participants, 3 participants were tested positive for Hepatitis c virus. The prevalence of HCV was 3.1%.  The prevalence of HCV was higher, 2(12.5%) among participants in the age group of 31-35 years .it was higher in females (3.7%) than in males (2.2%). The highest proportion of HCV infection was found among participants who were married (7.5%). Also, all of HCV antibody positive study participants were Christians (3.4%). The rates of HCV infection were higher among advance level holders (9.1%), participants who had history of blood transfusion (1%), those who had tattoos (2.0%), and those who were unaware of the symptoms of HCV (3.1), were significantly associated with the prevalence of the disease.

Conclusion: The prevalence of  HCV infection in this study was 3.1%. This indicated a low prevalence because my study was carried out on youths but according to WHO, HCV had a high prevalence in adults (45years and above). Also, there was no significant association between the risk factors and the prevalence of hepatitis C among study participants (68%). Moreover, the level of education and being a business person was significantly associated with the prevalence of the disease in this study.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a main contributor to chronic liver diseases worldwide. Its existence was first fully recognized in 1975 when Feinstone et al. found that most cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis were not associated with hepatitis A virus or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, and thus defined the disease non-A, non-B hepatitis (M. Houghton. 2009).

Subsequent transmission studies in chimpanzees showed that non-A, non-B hepatitis was likely caused by a small enveloped agent (M.C. Kew et al.1990) . In 1989, Houghton and colleagues cloned and sequenced the genome of HCV (strain HCV-using high-titer samples collected from an experimentally infected chimpanzee, and developed diagnostic tests. (Bukh et al.2001)

HCV is a small single-stranded enveloped RNA virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae and genus hepacivirus. HCV genomic RNA was single-stranded with positive polarity, which was packaged by core protein and enveloped by a lipid bilayer containing two viral glycoproteins (E1 and E2) to form the virion (Edwards TJ.2013). Despite the nucleotide sequence divergence among genotypes, all currently recognized HCV genotypes are hepatotropic and pathogenic (Pawlotsky JM. 2012).

WHO estimated that in 2019, approximately 290 000 people died from hepatitis C, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). Globally, an estimated 58 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection, with about 1.5 million new infections occurring per year.

There are an estimated 3.2 million adolescents and children with chronic hepatitis C infection.(WHO, 2021)  The prevalence of HCV in the general population in Africa ranges between 0.1% and 17.5%, depending on the country. The countries with the highest prevalence include Egypt (17.5%), Cameroon (13.8%) and Burundi (11.3%). (Pan Afr Med J. 2013). Cameroon is thought to have one of the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world (4.9% among adults). A marked cohort effect exists in several communities where ≈50% of the elderly are infected. Better assessment of HCV distribution is needed for planning treatment programmes. (R Njouom et al. 2018 Aug).

Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern. It is associated with life threatening conditions including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C virus infects around 71 million people annually, resultantly 700,000 deaths worldwide. Extrahepatic associated chronic hepatitis C virus accounts for one fourth of total healthcare load.

This review included a total of 150 studies that revealed almost 19 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus and 240,000 new cases are being reported each year. This trend is continually rising in developing countries like Pakistan where intravenous drug abuse, street barbers, unsafe blood transfusions, use of unsterilized surgical instruments and recycled syringes plays a major role in virus transmission.

Almost 123-180 million people are found to be hepatitis C virus infected or carrier that accounts for 2%-3% of world’s population. The general symptoms of hepatitis C virus infection include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, anorexia, fever malaise, nausea and constipation varying on severity and chronicity of infection. More than 90% of hepatitis C virus infected patients are treated with direct-acting antiviral agents that prevent progression of liver disease, decreasing the elevation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Standardizing the healthcare techniques, minimizing the street practices, and screening for viral hepatitis on mass levels for early diagnosis and prompt treatment may help in decreasing the burden on already fragmented healthcare system. However, more advanced studies on larger populations focusing on mode of transmission and treatment protocols are warranted to understand and minimize the overall infection and death stigma among masses.( N Engl J Med 1992)

1.2 Statement of Problem

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the hepatitis c virus(HCV) has a significant global impact with 58 million people chronically infected and about 1.5 million new infections occurring per year (WHO, 2023). The disease is reported to be highly prevalent in low-middle income countries like Cameroon. In Cameroon, the prevalence of the disease is 7.6 in the age group of 55-59 years (Tietcheu Galani BR, 2016).

Furthermore, HCV infection is usually asymptomatic resulting to late detection when it may have led to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, unlike other bacterial and viral diseases that have vaccines, to date there is no vaccine for hepatitis c making its control difficult. Although viral treatment for HCV can cure 90% of persons with HCV infection, access to diagnosis and treatment is low in the study area.

1.3 Objectives 

1.3.1 General Objective

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus amongst youths with age 15 to 35years in Mt Mary Hospital Buea.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

1. To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus amongst youths with age of 15-35years in Mt Mary Hospital Buea.
2. To evaluate the associated risk factors of Hepatitis C virus amongst youths within the age of 15-35years in Mt Mary Hospital Buea.
3. To find out the association between the prevalence and demographic data amongst youths within the age of 15-35years in Mt Mary Hospital Buea.

Check out: Medical Laboratory Project Topics with Materials