Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among Buddhist tribes of Kaza health block, Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh

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dc.contributor.authorSharma, Ren_US
dc.contributor.authorGupta, Aen_US
dc.contributor.authorSharma, Nen_US
dc.contributor.authorSachdeva, Aen_US
dc.contributor.authorBarall, Den_US
dc.contributor.authorBodh, Ven_US
dc.contributor.authorSharma, Den_US
dc.contributor.authorSharma, B.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T09:59:07Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T09:59:07Z
dc.date.issued2025-02
dc.description.abstractBackground. Infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/ or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global public health concern. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C in the Buddhist tribal area of Kaza health block in Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh, India, and to identify the determinants. Methods. The study was conducted by the departments of Gastroenterology, Community Medicine and Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla between June 2015 and October 2017. Using a two-stage sampling method, 4231 participants in 40 clusters were enrolled. For each subject, a pre-tested interview schedule was administered, and blood was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). Those samples which tested positive for HBsAg were further tested for hepatitis B core antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe). Results. Among the 4231 participants, HBsAg and anti- HCV were detected in 961 (22.7%) and 33 (0.9%), respectively, including 6 (0.1%) who tested positive for both. HBsAg positivity was not associated with religion (p=0.07), caste (p=0.16), level of education (p=0.58) ormarital status (p=0.73). Of all the participants, 588 (13.9%) reported a history of HBV vaccination. Of those who were HBsAg positive (961), 21.6% were positive for HBeAg and 58.3% were positive for anti-HBe. Conclusion. The prevalence of HBV infection in the Kaza health block was high, and no specific associations were identified. Interventions such as public health education and universal childhood immunization at birth may help reduce the high rate of transmission of HBV in this population.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Gastroenterology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Department of Gastroenterology, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Physiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Department of Gastroenterology, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Department of Gastroenterology, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Community Medicine, Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda 176001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Gastroenterology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsUndergraduate student, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba 176310, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Gastroenterology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationSharma R, Gupta A, Sharma N, Sachdeva A, Barall D, Bodh V, Sharma D, Sharma B.. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among Buddhist tribes of Kaza health block, Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. National Medical Journal of India. 2025 Feb; 38(1): 5-8en_US
dc.identifier.issn0970-258X
dc.identifier.issn2583-150X
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/252853
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherAll India Institute of Medical Sciencesen_US
dc.relation.issuenumber1en_US
dc.relation.volume38en_US
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.25259/NMJI_1042_2022en_US
dc.titlePrevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among Buddhist tribes of Kaza health block, Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradeshen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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