Publication:

Blood borne viral infections in adolescents of East Sikkim, Northeast India: serological prevalence and risk behaviour correlation

Background There is a high prevalence of HIV infection in adolescents of India, especially the north eastern states but awareness on blood borne viral infections among them is poor.

Methods Four hundred and ninety students aged thirteen to nineteen from seven schools and seven colleges of East Sikkim were interviewed on behavior related to transmission of blood borne viral infections and their blood was tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-Human Immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus antibodies.

Results None of the students tested positive for anti-Human Immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus antibodies and only one tested positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen. 6.7% of students gave history of heterosexual relationship.

Conclusions Despite the presence of behaviors associated with risk of acquiring blood borne viral infections in our adolescents we found a low prevalence of these infections, hence there is a need to do similar studies involving more and different cohort of adolescents.