Chronic Hepatitis C and Health Related Quality of Life: An Epidemiological Study in Kafr ElSheikh Governorate

Background Annually, 350 000 to 500 000 people die from hepatitis C-related complications. Egypt has the highest prevalence rate of HCV in the world, making it the most challenging health problem facing the country. Patients with chronic hepatitis C, even without major disease-related complications, perceive themselves to be unwell and have significant physiological effect on quality of life and as a result all the participants struggled to maintain a meaningful life. Objectives Better understanding and improving health related quality of life (HRQOL) among Hepatitis C patients in Kafr Elsheikh governorate, To identify the epidemiologic characteristics and risk factors of Hepatitis C compared to non-hepatitis C individuals and To evaluate the effect of the educational program on knowledge, behaviors and values of health related quality of life (HRQOL) among Hepatitis C patients. Subjects and methods a case control study was conducted at outpatient clinics of Kafr Elsheikh Liver Research Center. The sample selected randomly and included 250 hepatitis C patients, 250 non hepatitis C individuals which were subjected to a pre-coded interview questionnaire and Generic Health Survey scale (SF-36) then From hepatitis c patients, the researcher selected 200 of them randomly and these 200 patients divided randomly into experimental group (100 patients) who receive the intervention program and control group (100 patients) who did not receive the intervention. Results The results of this study have revealed dissatisfied level of knowledge and behavior among hepatitis C patients who attended outpatient clinic of Kafr Elsheikh Liver Research Center. The study declared that mean of Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) and their items is more prevalent in control group compared with case group and this might reflect the negative role of hepatitis C virus on the quality of life of the patients. Recommendations there is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection. Therefore, prevention can only be based on increase awareness of HCV infection and change harmful behaviors aiming to reduce the risk of transmission of HCV infection to the others. So, education remains the lee- way to change negative perceptions and attitudes towards HCV as infectious disease.