Globally, around 150 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). India contributes a large proportion of this HCV burden. The prevalence of HCV infection in India is estimated at between 0.5% and 1.5%. It is higher in the northeastern part, tribal populations and Punjab, areas which may represent HCV hotspots, and is lower in western and eastern parts of the country. The predominant modes of HCV transmission in India are blood transfusion and unsafe therapeutic injections. There is a need for large field studies to better understand HCV epidemiology and identify high-prevalence areas, and to identify and spread awareness about the modes of transmission of this infection in an attempt to prevent disease transmission.
Keywords: CH-C, chronic hepatitis C; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; INASL, Indian National Association for Study of the Liver; IV, intravenous; IVDU, intravenous/injecting drug user; chronic hepatitis; epidemiology; hepatitis C virus.