Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Across Age and Gender in a Sample Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus remains a significant public health burden in Pakistan, which has one of the highest HCV prevalence rates globally. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of HCV in a sample population and examine variations by age and gender. The overall HCV prevalence was found to be 15.79%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 8.56% to 27.18%. The highest prevalence was observed in the 21-40 years age group (37.5%), suggesting younger adults are at increased risk due to high-risk behaviors such as intravenous drug use. The 41-60 and 61-80 years age groups showed similar prevalence rates of 14.29% and 12%, respectively, while the 0-20 and 81+ years groups had no positive cases, though wide CIs indicated uncertainty due to small sample sizes. Prevalence was slightly higher in males (17.14%) than in females (13.64%), although this difference was not statistically significant. These findings align with previous studies highlighting the continued burden of HCV in Pakistan, driven by unsafe healthcare practices and limited access to effective treatment. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions, particularly in younger adults and high-risk groups, as well as the expansion of screening and treatment programs. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these trends and improve the precision of prevalence estimates.