Frequency of Hepatitis B and C and its Risk Factors in Pregnant Women Presenting at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C are the most common infections throughout the world. Both viral infections in pregnancy have serious implications, including increasing the risk of chronic infection, perinatal transmission, accelerated liver damage. Objective: To identify the frequency of hepatitis B and C in pregnant women as well as the risk factors that contribute to these infections. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi from 10th July 2022 till 10th December 2022. After taking a verbal consent data were collected from 332 patients who met the diagnostic criteria. Quantitative data were presented as simple descriptive statistics using mean and standard deviation, whereas frequency and percentages were used for qualitative variables. Effect modifiers were controlled through stratification to see the effect of these on the outcome variable. chi square test was applied after stratification with p-value of ≤0.05 considered significant. Results: Mean age and gestational age was 33.41 ± 7.59 years and 38.24 ± 1.77 weeks respectively. Hepatitis B and C was found in 20.5% and 14.5% respectively. Most common risk factors are use of injections and various surgical procedure followed by blood transfusion, tattooing and multiple sexual partners is least common factors. Conclusions: The study indicated the high frequency of hepatitis B and C virus infection among pregnant women. HBV and HCV infection were associated with histories of injections, surgeries, and blood transfusions