scholarly journals Perceptions about Hepatitis C, its Myths, Misconceptions and Association with Health-Related Behavior among People of District Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
Muhammad Imran ◽  
Ayesha Baber Kawish ◽  
Aamira Hashmi ◽  
Muzammil Irshad ◽  
Naila Azam

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a blood-borne virus where the most common modes of its transmission are unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, and transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. Approximately, 130–150 million people globally are suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection. A significant number of these chronically infected will develop liver cirrhosis or liver cancer subsequently. Approximately 500,000 people die of hepatitis C related liver diseases every year. This study aimed to describe personal characteristics, knowledge of respondents and to find out association of these factors with perceptions about Hepatitis C. The study also aimed to focus on perceptions (perceived susceptibility, severity and cues to action) of general population and finding association between their perceptions and health-related behaviors.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Layyah city situated in Punjab province. Total of 423 male participants were selected through multistage sampling from general population of district Layyah. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: Out of 423 respondents, participants with the poor level of knowledge had right perceptions about hepatitis C (16.8%). 82.7% of the respondents were aware about the availability of hepatitis C treatment. Highest perceptions were observed in age group of 21-25 years old (39.7%), unmarried (73.0%), Saraiki (58.2%) and unemployed population (45.9%). People with less myth had the right perceptions about the hepatitis C.Conclusion: Increasing age, unmarried status and ethnicity were associated with right perceptions shown by respondents. Knowledge remained significant in showing association with perceptions about hepatitis C. General population perceived their susceptibility, severity of consequences and cues to actions were connecting them to show right perceptions overall. Relatives, colleagues and TV were common source of information about hepatitis C respectively.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
william mawalla ◽  
Henry A. Mwakyoma ◽  
Upendo Massamu

Abstract Background Medico-legal or forensic autopsy is a special type of autopsy performed under the orders of a legal authority in circumstances involving unnatural, suspicious or criminal deaths. Gross and histopathological studies of viscera in medico-legal autopsies have been observed to serve as crucial tool in the detection of undiagnosed disease conditions and the resulting findings may closely represent the general population. Methods A prospective cross sectional study was carried out at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) department of pathology, to medico-legal autopsies received at the MNH mortuary. The study included 103 cases in an eight month period. Both lungs were weighed for each case and tissue samples were collected from each lobe, in both lungs. Other gross findings were observed and recorded. Tissue sections were made and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and evaluated under a microscope. Results Out of 103 cases studied, 88.3% were male with mean age of 35.8 + 16.6 years. In females, the mean age was 31.6 + 10.4 years. The mean weight of lungs was found to be 627.3 + 138.5g and 591.7 + 129.7g for the right and left lung, respectively, in males. In females, the mean weight of lungs was 616.7 + 166.1g and 583.3 + 155.8g for the right and left lung, respectively. More than half (53.4%) of lung samples had some pathological disease, and the leading diagnosis was pulmonary congestion/oedema (22.3%) followed by lobar pneumonia (18.5%). Age was found to relate with the observed histological diagnosis of the lungs. Conclusion Males, especially the youth and adults are the main victims of medico-legal deaths. The study also revealed high prevalence of undiagnosed lung diseases in victims of medico-legal deaths. These findings may reflect heavy burden of lung diseases in the general population.


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad BHATE ◽  
Naimish SARAF ◽  
Pathik PARIKH ◽  
Meghraj INGLE ◽  
Aniruddha PHADKE ◽  
...  

Background - Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are among the principal causes of severe liver disease. There is limited data of epidemiology of Hepatitis B in community, more so in rural population. Objective - To find the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection in community and study the risk factors for their transmission. Methods - This was a community based cross sectional study. A total of 1833 randomly selected subjects from a rural area were interviewed for risk factors for transmission and tested for markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. All the positive card tests were confirmed by ELISA. Results - Out of 2400 subjects, rate for participation was 76.38%. None of the subjects was positive for anti hepatitis C virus antibody. Point prevalence for HBsAg positivity was 0.92. Being healthcare worker and having tattoo were significantly associated with HBsAg positive results. Nose and ear piercing was reported by almost. History of blood or blood product transfusion, I/V drug abuse, multiple sexual partners, unsafe Injections, hemodialysis and any h/o surgery was not associated with HBsAg positivity. Conclusion - Health care workers are at high risk for transmission of hepatitis B. Educating common people regarding mode of transmission of Hepatitis B and C will help to reduce their transmission.


2015 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 045-047
Author(s):  
Siddharth M Shetty ◽  
Shreema Shetty ◽  
Anoop Hegde ◽  
Nirmal Babu

AbstractOccupational diseases are present worldwide. Dentists believe that they are at a higher risk for development of musculoskeletal disorders due to the postures attained at work. Hence, we conducted a study for understanding the prevalence of such ailments amongst the paedodontist population. We employed a cross-sectional study of 270 paedodontists who were selected at random and were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. The questions were about personal characteristics, job history, specific work habits and mostly pertaining to clinical dentistry with details of any recent occurrence of neck or back pain. Results tabulated showed a 79.6 % of the paedodontists reported having experienced at least one episode of neck or back pain in the immediate past 12 months. This value is way above the occurrence of similar complaints seen among the general population which is estimated to be around 55%. The study concluded indicating that the incidence of neck and back pain among dentists is higher than general population. This may be attributed to extreme postures that may be attained during the clinical work and which may be extreme in paediatric dentists.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III ◽  
Ahmad Neyazi ◽  
Attaullah Ahmadi ◽  
Omid Tabesh ◽  
Habibah Afzali ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is one of the major concerns in the roll out of vaccines in many countries. The aim of the study was to assess the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among the population in Herat, Afghanistan, the third largest city in the country.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 April 2021 and 20 April 2021 among the general population of Herat City to examine the acceptability rate of COVID-19 vaccine. Sample size was calculated at 555. Different variables were collected using a questionnaire developed. Data were evaluated in IBM SPSS program.Results: Only 10.63% of the participants were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine without having any concern and reservation. 45% were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 66.5% were concerned about the vaccine and its side effects and 29% were afraid of being infected by transmission of COVID-19 through the administration of vaccine on them.Conclusion: This research demonstrates that, concerns about the vaccine, myths and misinformation are widespread which will undermine the vaccination process. This study recommends the initiation of more health-related campaigns and awareness programs by the government for general population to enhance and expedite the roll out of COVID-19 vaccine.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1278-1283
Author(s):  
Shabnam Naveed ◽  
Syed Masroor Ahmed ◽  
Zeeshan Ali ◽  
Romana Awan ◽  
Humaira Zakir ◽  
...  

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection in Type IIDiabetes Mellitus patients and its associated risk factors in our population. Duration and Placeof Study: Study was conducted in Jinnah Post graduate Medical Centre, Karachi betweenDecember 2013 to December 2014.Study Design: It is a Cross-sectional study. Data collectionand Results: Data was collected from registered diabetic patients, 355 diagnosed Type IIdiabetes mellitus patients including 128(36.1%) males and 227(63.9%) females were selectedand their Hepatitis C screening was done by ICT method. The bio-data of the patients, history andduration of diabetes mellitus, history of blood transfusion, previous surgery, accidents, shavingfrom barber, tattooing, nose piercing, acupuncture,insulin use were recorded on a proforma.Out of the 355 diabetes mellituspatients tested, 33 were positive for anti-HCV antibodies givinga prevalence of 9.3%. Conclusion:There is increased prevalence of HCV infectionin diabeticpatients when compared with general prevalence of HCV in Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 2487-2490
Author(s):  
Asmat Ullah ◽  
Mirwais Kakar ◽  
Bilal Ahmed ◽  
Sadia Jabbar ◽  
Inayat Ullah

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out the association of peripheral neuropathy in hepatitis C infection with and without cryoglobulineamia. Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration: Conducted in Liver Transplant Unit, Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, Gambat Khairpur Mirs, Sindh for the duration of six months from November 2020 to April 2021. Methods: Total 50 patients who had hepatitis C infection and peripheral neuropathy were included in this study. Patients were aged between 18- 60 years. Detailed demographics of patients including age, sex and body mass index were recorded after taking informed written consent. When symptoms and evidence of peripheral sensory or motor involvement were evident, clinical neuropathy was diagnosed. Sural nerve biopsy was done on patients and the biopsy specimen was evaluated morphologically and morphometrically. Multiple neuropathy, cranial neuropathy, and polyneuropathy are all terms used to describe peripheral nerve involvement. Our research focused on the motor conduction of the median, ulnar, and common peroneal nerves, measuring MCV, CMAP amplitude, and distal latency (DL) in both patients with and without cryoglobulinaemia for each nerve. The SPSS 20.0 version was used to analyze the data. Results: Mean age of the patients was 46.23±9.87 years with mean BMI 29.16±11.27 kg/m2. There were 30 (60%) females and 20 (40%) were males. We found that 35 (70%) patients had CG involvement with peripheral neuropathy and 15 (30%) cases were without CG. Prevalence of polyneuropathy was higher 19 (54.3%) in CG patients as compared to non CG 2 (13.3%). Mononeuropathy or multiple neuropathy was higher in HCV CG patients 13 (37.1%) as compared to HCV non CG patients 4 (26.7%). 25 patients underwent nerve biopsy (20 CG patients and 5 non CG). Prevalence of epineurial vasculitis and fascicular loss of axons was higher in non CG patients while demyelination + axonal degeneration were prevalent in CG patients. MCV of the deep peroneal nerve in patients with CG+ was low as compared to CG. Even though no statistically significant differences were detected, the other neurophysiological measures pointed to a more extensive and severe involvement of peripheral nerve in CG+ patients. Conclusion: We concluded in this study that the association of peripheral neuropathy in HCV patients with cryoglobulinaemia was greater as compared to non-CG HCV patients. It appears that both CG+ and CG patients suffer from peripheral nerve injury via a vasculitic mechanism, as evidenced by clinical and morphological observations. Serum CG levels indicate a more severe and broad neuropathic involvement, however research suggests that cryoglobulins are not the only element in the vasculitic process. Keywords: Cryoglobulinemia, Peripheral Neuropathy, HCV


2017 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. S615-S616
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mahgoub ◽  
Talal El Imad ◽  
Fady Haddad ◽  
Joseph Saabiye ◽  
Danial Daneshavar ◽  
...  

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