Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus in Beta thalassemic patients attending blood diseases center in Ibn- AL -Baladi Hospital, Baghdad

Abstract

Background: Thalassemias are a group of heterogeneous genetic disorders, in which the rate of production of hemoglobin is partially or completely suppressed due to reduced rate of synthesis of α or β- chain Objectives: to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis C infection among B thalassemia patients attending Ibn-AL-Baladi center of blood diseases in AL-Sader city, in AL-Resafa Quarter of Baghdad and to determine the possible risk factors. Type of the study: Cross- sectional study. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted on B Thalassemia patients attending the blood diseases center in Ibn-AL-Baladi hospital during the period from 1st  of July till the 31st  of December 2015.           Results:   All of 400 eligible patients, who were recruited to be included in this study, were accepted to participate in the study giving an overall response rate 100%. The prevalence rate of Hepatitis C according to anti HCV antibody test among the study group was 26%. Conclusions: we conclude that about quarter of Iraqi thalassemic patients visiting the thalassemia center in Ibn-AL-Baladi hospital have HCV infection