Frequency of Risk Factors for Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Objective: To determine the frequency of risk factors (causes of transmission) for HBV and HCV infections in hospitalized patients of Social Security Hospital, Rawalpindi. Design: (Descriptive) cross sectional study Place and Duration of study: The study was carried out in Social Security Hospital, Rawalpindi from June, 2008 to June, 2009. Materials and methods: The patients were selected by consecutive (non-probability) sampling technique. Their data was collected through questionnaire. Informed written consent was obtained. SPSS version 15 was used to calculate the Descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 103 patients of hepatitis (B C) were selected, in which 12 (11.65%) were suffering from hepatitis B and 91 (88.35%) were suffering from hepatitis C, with significantly higher male preponderance. The history of injection was very high in both groups of patients i.e. in HBV (83.3%) and in HCV (86.8%). History of extra marital sex was higher in HBV patients (25%) as compared to HCV (17.6%). The important contributors for different types of hepatitis were blood transfusion (HBV = 16.7%, HCV = 48.4%, surgical procedure ( HBV=8.3%, HCV=38.5%) and history of piercing in last six months (HBV=41.5%, HCV=70.3%). History of dental procedure in last 6 month was higher in HCV patients (HCV=45.1% vs. HBV=16.7%). Conclusion: The important contributors for different types of hepatitis were blood transfusion, surgical procedures and history of piercing in last six months. In Pakistan there an urgent need to raise the public awareness about importance of properly screened blood transfusion, use of disposable needles and using new blades for shaving and hair cuts especially at barbers shops.