ISSN: 2167-0587
Asad Ali, Muhammad Shakeel, Shoaib Khalid, Tanveer Ahmed, Mubarra Noreen and Ali Rehan Munir
This study was carried out to investigate the spatial patterns of Hepatitis C and its prevalence in males and females in Ghadezai Tehsil District Buner Khyber Paktunkhawa. The patients’ data i.e. residential addresses were taken from the district head quarter Dagger Buner. This data was used for the analysis of the Hepatitis C disease. All the patients’ locations were marked correctly through GPS in the form of x y co-ordinates. These co-ordinates were used to performed spatial analysis, mapping and other quarries of this disease by using GIS software. The results show that the spatial pattern of Hepatitis C in Ghadezai Tehsil was random and uneven. Four areas were identified the hotspots of Hepatitis C in which Dokaddah was in the extreme north Kalakheela in the center while Bazargai and Geraray was in the west of Ghadezai Tehsil. High prevalence of HCV was observed in males (51%) and females (49%) patients. Most number of infections was found in married people (87%) as compared to unmarried people (13%). The age group of 31-45 years was the most affected in the entire study area. Sharing of items among the family members, barbers shops of the area, general practitioners, dental technicians and infected parents were identified the risk factors of HCV in the study area.