FREQUENCY OF ANTI-HCV, HBsAg AND RELATED RISK FACTORS IN PREGNANT WOMEN AT NISHTAR HOSPITAL, MULTAN
Abstract
Background: Viral hepatitis is a global issue. Among the hepatitis viruses hepatitis B and C areimportant in South Asia including Pakistan. There are various modes of transmission of these viruses.
Vertical transmission is also gaining importance. Antepartum screening for HBV and HCV would help
the infected women for appropriate antiviral therapy at appropriate time as well as for taking proper
care of the newborns. The present study was designed to see the frequency of HBsAg and anti-HCV in
pregnant women at Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out
using non-probability purposive sampling technique. The period of the study was from June 2006 to
August 2007. Five hundred (500) pregnant women attending outpatient department of Gynaecology
and Obstetrics were included. Informed consent was taken. A specially designed proforma was filled in.
Anti-HCV and HBsAg were tested by device method. Data were analyzed on SPSS-11. Results: Out
of 500 pregnant women 35 (7.00%) were found to be anti-HCV positive and 23 (4.60%) were positive
for HBsAg. Mean age was 26.7±4.8 years. Majority of the patients 263 (52.60%) were in the age group
26-35 years. 138 (27.60%) women were nulliparous and 282 (56.40%) were para 1-4 and anti-HCV
and HBsAg were common in this parity group. Only 80 (16.00%) women were para 5 or more. All
anti-HCV and HBsAg positive women were house-wives. Most of them were belonging to rural areas
having poor socio-economic status. Among 35 anti-HCV positive women, 20 (57.14%) had history of
previous surgery, while 13 (37.14%) had history of multiple injections, 5 (14.28%) received blood
transfusion, 4 (11.42%) had ear/nose piercing while tattooing was seen in only 2 (5.71%). Among 23
HBsAg positive women, 10 (43.47%) had history of previous surgery. History of multiple injections
was present in 6 (26.08%) patients, 4 (17.39%) patients had history of blood transfusion, tattooing,
ear/nose piercing, history of dental procedure, history of sharing needles was observed in 1 each.
Conclusion: Frequency of anti-HCV is more common than HBsAg in our study population. Previous
history of surgery, multiple injection therapy and blood transfusion were observed as risk factors
among anti-HCV and HBsAg positive pregnant women.
Keywords: Anti-HCV, HBsAg, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, pregnancy
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