Diagnóstico precoce da hepatite C pela atenção primária à saúde

This is an exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with an epidemiological approach, carried out in primary health care units in the city of Uberaba between 2014 and March of 2017. It aimed to know the prevalence and positivity of the Anti-hepatitis C antibody in adult population over 40 years. 17,845 people were tested using the immunochromatographic test and then the 131 positives were tested for genotyping and liver fibrosis staging. It was found 0.73% of positives, 79.3% of whom were born in the 1950s to 1970s; and 24% had moderate liver fibrosis, advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The most cited forms of transmission were drug use (any route); multiple sexual partners and transfusions, hemodialysis or organ transplantation. It is important to train professionals in the primary care network on the importance of hepatitis C, its early diagnosis and priority risk groups, in addition to providing greater access to diagnosis.