ABSTRACT
Ali types of hepatitis are quiet common in our population. Hepatitis G Virus [HGV] infection is relatively new viral infection and a little work is done on it. The objective of this study is to find out prevalence HGV infection in blood donors [Professional and Volunteer blood donors]. It is a comparative study. This study was done at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and KMDC, Karachi from 1[st] July 1995 to 30[th] June 1999. Three hundred seventy-one [371] blood donors were screened for HGV infection by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] for HGV RNA. These blood donors includes 173 professionals and 198 volunteers. Three hundred seventy one [371] blood donors were screened for HGV with 05 [1.35%] positive cases. In professional donors group out 173 there were 04 [2.31%] positive for HGV where as in volunteer donor group only one [0.5%] was positive forHGV out of 198. All were male and highest positive cases for HGV were in 50-59 years age group in professional donors and 01[2.2%] in volunteer donor group. HGV infection is present in both professionals as well as volunteers donors with a ratio of 4:1. It is advisable to include HGV testing or screening mandatory for each blood bag before transfusing it to individual to minimize serious outcome of HGV infacture as people suffered from HBV, HCV and HIV
ABSTRACT
A health survey about AIDS awareness in Pakistan was conducted during 1998-99 as a joint venture of International Collaboration Medical Team of Japanese National Institute of Public Health, Nagoya University, School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan and Awan Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. It is important to be aware of the attitude and behavior related to AIDS infection, because the number of people infected by it has been increasing rapidly in many countries of Asia. The information collected in this survey can serve as a guide for health policy in Pakistan. A randomized survey comprising 5110 [2400 male and 2710 female] Pakistani nationals of different age groups were tested in this study. The marital status and educational background were also recorded. A questionnaire was distributed to the subject individuals, which was based upon the information about the modes of AIDS spread. The mass survey for its awareness in general public has successfully been conducted for the first time in Pakistan. The survey revealed several striking facts and figures that will help build up our future strategy to combat the challenge of this deadly disease. With reference to this survey, about 12% of the total population was completely in dark about AIDS [including 9.7% illiterate]. It is recommended that the people at large should be fully made aware of AIDS. The most effective medium for such an education oriented programme [as revealed by this survey] is television. The authorities should allocate sufficient time on television for programmes like drama, group discussions, interviews by the AIDS victims and open question-answer sessions