Active Communities Screening for Hepatitis B and C Virus among High-risk Populations in Lopburi Province, Fiscal Year 2024

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to study the proactive screening of hepatitis B and C in a high-risk community population using rapid test kits in the area served by the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital, Lopburi Provincial Administrative Organization.  A total of 717 people were screened using the Hepatitis B and C Screening Form form the Preventive Medicine Demonstration Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Control 4, Saraburi Province, Department of Disease Control. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, including numbers, percentages, means and standard deviations. The study results found that 717 high-risk populations, 69.46% were female, 100% were Thai, 39.61% were aged 60 years and over, 26.92% were employed, 62.34% were married, 54.95% hadn’t underlying diseases, 90.10% had never been screened for hepatitis B, 93.44% had never been screened for hepatitis C, 97.63% had never received the hepatitis B vaccine, 91.91% were at risk of being born before 1992, 2.09% had positive hepatitis B (HBsAg) test results and 0.42% had positive hepatitis C (Anti-HCV) test results. Suggestion from this study should be actions to cooperation between public health service units and local administrative organizations promoted to accelerate the screening of hepatitis risk groups, especially in the provision of proactive services in the community and the provision of referral services for those who test positive for treatment quickly.