Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

Epidemiologic Status of Viral Hepatitis Infections in Patients Referred to Health Care Centers of Qom Province during 2009-2013

Authors
M Nateghi Rostami 1
M Tasbihi 2
P Ghorbanian 3
Z Najafi 3
Z Mousavi Miandashti 4
1 PhD of Medical Parasitology, Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
2 PhD student of Medical Parasitology, Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 BSc of Public Health, Dept. of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
4 MSc of Public Health, City Health Care Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Because of the huge number of travelers, immigrants and pilgrims, Qom Province has a priority in evaluation of infectious diseases epidemiology. This study reports the epidemic aspects of viral hepatitises in patients referred to health care centers of Qom Province during 2009-2013.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study, hepatitis patients referred to health care centers of Qom Province during 2009-1013 were examined and blood samples were collected. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded in special questionnaire and analysed by using Chi-square and Fisher exact tests.

Results: A total of 1188 cases (64.0% male, 36.0% female) of hepatitis were recorded in health care centers of the Province. The mean±SD age of the patients was 48.6±17.0 year. Among all patients which have laboratory findings, 836 were HBs Ag positive, 325 HCV Ab positive and 27 HIV Ab positive. Abdominal pain, jaundice and nausea were the most common symptoms. In analysis of risk factors of infection, non-sexual contacts (p=0.046) and dentistry intervention (p=0.050) were significantly higher in HBs Ag positive compared to HBs Ag negative patients. Also, imprisonment, skin tattoos and intravenous drug abuse were significantly higher in HCV Ab positive compared to HCV Ab negative patients (all p<0.001).

Conclusion: Continued education of the public including natives and immigrants for early referral, diagnosis and management of the infection especially in high risk population such as drug abusers and those with non-safe contacts play an important part in control of hepatitis infection.
Keywords
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Epidemiology
Qom
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