Table 2 Univariable and multivariable meta-regression models for hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in the general population in Pakistan

General population subpopulations

Blood donors

1

–

1

–

Pregnant women/ANC attendees

2.0 (1.2–3.2)

0.007

2.1 (0.5–9.1)

0.324

Non-specific general populations

3.3 (2.4–4.6)

< 0.001

3.2 (1.6–6.4)

< 0.001

Children

0.6 (0.2–1.5)

0.266

0.6 (0.2–1.6)

0.299

Outpatients

4.8 (2.4–9.7)

< 0.001

5.3 (2.1–13.0)

< 0.001

Military personnel

0.7 (0.3–1.5)

0.322

0.7 (0.3–2.1)

0.572

Refugees

2.6 (0.8–8.3)

0.111

1.9 (0.2–15.6)

0.549

Province

Punjab

1

–

1

–

Azad Kashmir

0.8 (0.2–3.1)

0.735

0.7 (0.2–2.5)

0.544

Balochistan

1.0 (0.4–2.5)

0.932

0.9 (0.4–2.0)

0.856

F.A.T.A

0.2 (0.0–0.9)

0.041

0.3 (0.1–1.3)

0.099

Islamabad Capital Territory

1.2 (0.4–3.5)

0.737

1.4 (0.5–4.1)

0.490

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

1.2 (0.7–2.1)

0.397

1.0 (0.6–1.7)

0.886

Sindh

1.2 (0.8–1.8)

0.488

1.3 (0.9–1.8)

0.245

Mixed/Unspecified

0.8 (0.8–1.8)

0.560

1.0 (0.6–2.0)

0.879

Study site

Blood bank

1

–

1

–

Community

2.4 (1.6–3.5)

< 0.001

0.9 (0.5–1.9)

0.849

Clinical setting

1.5 (0.9–2.7)

0.141

0.7 (0.3–1.3)

0.228

ANC clinic

2.0 (1.1–3.5)

0.028

0.8 (0.2–4.0)

0.777

Refugee camp

3.0 (0.6–14.4)

0.178

1.6 (0.1–19.3)

0.718

Sample size

< 100

1

–

1

–

≥100

0.2 (0.1–0.5)

< 0.001

0.4 (0.2–0.8)

0.008

Year of data collection

1.0 (1.0–1.0)

0.413

–

Year of publication

1.0 (1.0–1.1)

0.565

–