Hep B UNVEILING THE HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C LANDSCAPE IN JALALABAD: INSIGHTS FROM NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION TESTING

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the epidemiological state of HBV and HCV infection in the Afghanistan, province of Nangarhar. Over a six-month period, approximately 17600 patients were treated for various diagnoses. 538 of the samples tested positive for HBs Ag and HCV Ab; the ICT screening was used to identify the positive samples, and PCR was used to confirm the results. The entire patient population (17600) had a prevalence of both HBV and HCV of (n=538, 3.056%), while each had a prevalence of (n=198, 1.125%) for HCV Ab and (n=340, 1.9318%) for HBs Ag. The nucleic acid-based prevalence for viral hepatitis was lowered to (n=171, 0.9715%) for HCV, (n=53, 0.3011%), and (n=118, 0.670%) for HBV. The research findings indicate that the prevalence of HCV is higher in females than in males. The age range between 31 and 40 has the highest prevalence; based on information provided in the questionnaire, women in this age group have had many deliveries, including multiple blood transfusions. Men were more likely than women to be affected by HBV. The data gathered suggests that dental work up and family interaction with any affected individual may be contributing factors.