Health epidemiology & statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Health epidemiology & statistics - Essay Example It results from the Hepatitis C virus or the HCV. Although the infection is usually asymptomatic, its chronic phase is characterized by a scarred liver and the subsequent development of liver cirrhosis. This takes place after many years (Butt et al., 2010). Some of the key methods through which it is spread include blood-to-blood contact that may result from poor sterilization of medical equipment, intravenous use of drugs and transfusions. About 150 to 200 million people are infected with Hepatitis C all over the world. It is known to infect only human beings and chimpanzees. The virus is persistent in the liver of 85% of those who have been infected. Although there is no immunity against the disease, it can be treated and cured. However, there is still a high and increasing morbidity, co-morbidities, and mortality of the disease (Sweeting, De Angelis, Ades, & Hickman, 2009). The main factors that are associated with this are people, place and time, which form a significant part of the transmission mechanism. In relation to the people, there must be a susceptible host, who must have the necessary conditions of host defenses to enable disease prevention. There is also an important component of place, which refers to the availability of a conducive site for the microbial agent to adhere, enter and infect thus causing the disease within the susceptible host. In terms of time, the natural settings provide a favorable environment for the agent to multiply and survive within the reservoir (Panduro et al., 2010). APN affects the primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions of hepatitis C in the sense that it provides both individual and population prevention methods. Different strategies can be applied in the counselling, screening and therapeutic methods. Butt, S., Idrees, M., Akbar, H., ur Rehman, I., Awan, Z.,