High mortality rates from liver cancer in the urban area of Campania Region: prevalence of hepatitis and sociodemographic factors.

The incidence of liver cancer appears lower in Europe and the USA and it is often looked upon as a problem in developing countries. Liver cancer has two main risk factors: the abuse of alcohol and the elevated prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses. In Italy the first one is mainly present in the North and the second one in Southern less developed areas. Our study evaluates the relationship between living in urban and suburban zones in South of Italy in conditions of overcrowding, poor health services and high incidence of hepatitis and liver cancer.