Hepatitis C virus antibody testing among 11 specific populations in Yunnan province from 2013 to 2022: an analysis of annual report data from medical institutions

Abstract

ObjectiveTo understand the prevalence level and trend of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among 11 specific populations in Yunnan province, and to provide evidence for formulating and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention and control measures. MethodsThe annual report data from 2013 to 2022 on comprehensive prevention and control of hepatitis C were collected from all medical institutions in 16 prefectures/municipalities in Yunnan province and were analyzed using R software and the Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to assess the changing trends in HCV antibody (anti-HCV) positivity rates among different population groups and for different regions. ResultsOf a total of 64 879 772 person-times of anti-HCV detection performed in medical institutions during the period, 392 971 (0.61%) were anti-HCV positive, and the annual anti-HCV positive rates ranged from 0.49% (45 069/9 286 175) to 0.83% (20 819/2 494 869) during the period, with a decreasing trend (Z = – 100.05, P < 0.05). The top three population groups with the highest anti-HCV positive rate were drug users (27.46%, 52 508/191 184), detainees (3.31%, 3 183/96 038), and female sex workers (0.92%, 1 152/125 832). The anti-HCV positive rate showed a decreasing trend in all population groups, including preoperative patients, blood transfusion recipients, other medical clients, pregnant women, blood donors, drug users, female sex workers, detainees, and others (all P < 0.05), except for premarital checkups and men who have sex with men, whose anti-HCV positive rates showed an increasing trend (Z = 2.9252, P < 0.05; Z = 7.0807, P < 0.05). The top three regions with the highest anti-HCV positive rate were Dehong prefecture, Baoshan municipality, Honghe prefecture and Kunming municipality. The anti-HCV positive rate showed a decreasing trend in all prefectures/municipalities of the province during the period (all P < 0.05), except for in Diqing and Nujiang prefectures and Zhaotong municipality, whose anti-HCV positive rate showed an increasing trend (Z = 3.518, P < 0.05; Z = 7.2602, P < 0.05; Z = 4.5373, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe prevalence of anti-HCV positive in Yunnan province from 2013 to 2022 was mainly among key populations such as drug users, detainees, and female sex workers, with regions with higher positive rate including Dehong and Honghe prefectures, and Baoshan and Kunming municipalities, where the prevalence of former drug abuse was also higher.

Keywords

• hepatitis c
• different populations
• anti-hcv positive rate
• yunnan province