Research Article, J Womens Health Issues Care Vol: 2 Issue: 2
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Iraq
Waqar A. Al-Kubaisy1* and Amjad D. Niazi2 | |
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Population Health and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia | |
2Faculty of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq | |
Corresponding author : Waqar A. Al-Kubaisy Faculty of Medicine, Department of Population Health and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sungai Buloh Campus, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia Tel: +6 03-6126 7173 E-mail: Waqar_abd@yahoo.co.uk |
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Received: January 25, 2013 Accepted: March 23, 2013 Published: March 27, 2013 | |
Citation: Al-Kubaisy WA, Niazi AD (2013) Socio-demographic Characteristics as Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Iraq. J Womens Health, Issues Care 2:2. doi:10.4172/2325-9795.1000106 |
Abstract
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Iraq
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health, affecting approximately 180 million persons worldwide. It was documented that HCV are accounting for 70%-90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases worldwide. Interestingly, Ly et al. predicted that by year 2020, the annual death rate due to liver cirrhosis or HCC is expected to be around 18,000 persons. HCV infection considered as a significant major public health burden in both industrialized and developing countries. However, region specific variation in prevalence of HCV infection was detected with the highest prevalence were (15-20%) in Egypt.