Posted in Volume 16 - Number 1 Suppl
NAILA MASOOD, MOHAMMAD HANIF GHANI, ABDUL HAQUE KHAN, RAFI AHMED GHOURI, MUHAMMAD IQBAL MEMON
ABSTRACT | Full Text PDF
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of knowledge about modes of HCV transmission between HCV infected cases and control group.
DESIGN: Hospital based case-control study.
SETTING: Department of Medicine, Liaquat Univeristy Hospital, Jamshoro/Hyderabad, Pakistan.
DURATION: Two years study – from July 2006 to June 2008.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: All known cases (group I) of hepatitis C paired conveniently for age, sex and education by including the accompanying persons/visitors of patients other than known HCV infected cases (group II). Both groups were interviewed regarding modes of HCV transmission and then scored accordingly.
RESULTS: Total 180 cases were paired with controls. Males predominated females by the ratio of 2.13:1. Male sex and education were highly associated with level of knowledge (P=.001 and P<.001 respectively) but age was not. There was no significant difference in scores of both groups as whole (means±SD scores group I 0.67±2.70, group II 9.68±2.84, P=.795), but both groups showed significant differences in scores for different modes of transmission.
CONCLUSION: Literacy and social intermingling increases knowledge and awareness. There are significant gaps in knowledge about HCV infection and its modes of transmission in particular. Cross-sectional surveys followed by awareness programs are required on large scale to increase the level of knowledge, thus prevent the epidemic.
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