Risk factors for hepatitis C infection in a national adult population: evidence from the 2008 Egypt DHS

Jasbir K. Sangha, Macro International Inc.
Ann Way, Macro International Inc.
Fatma El- Zanaty, El- Zanaty & Associates
Nasr El-Sayed, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C in the world and consequently the highest health care burden in the country. The seroprevalence estimates varies highly across various studies based on the sample population and geographic locations of these studies. Therefore, under the stewardship of Ministry of Health and Planning (MOHP), Cairo, Egypt, hepatitis C testing was incorporated into the Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2008. The biomarker data from the nationally-representative Demographic and Health Survey will be used to demonstrate the first national level prevalence of acute and chronic HCV infection in Egypt. We also analyze the sociodemographic and biological factors that are associated with Hepatitis C infection.