[Demographic factors influencing hepatitis B and C infection in Benghazi, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]

ABSTRACT

We studied the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infection among a sample of patients referred to the Department of the Infectious and Endemic Diseases at Al Jamahiriya Hospital in Benghazi. Of a total 3250 patients, 40% were randomly selected. Of these, 51.2% were infected with hepatitis B virus, 46.9% with hepatitis C virus and 1.9% with hepatitis B and C. Younger patients and single patients were more prone to hepatitis B infection, while older patients, married patients and travellers were more prone to hepatitis C. About 20% of hepatitis B cases and 25% of hepatitis C cases were non-Libyans. Males were more affected [65%] than females [35%]