Prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B and C in rural and urban areas of district Faisalabad

Abstract

Background: The issue of hepatitis B and C virus is highly morbid and requires local epidemiological data to support targeted preventive and control initiatives. This study was conducted to determine the clinical risk factors and related sociodemographic characteristics of adults in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Faisalabad in two tertiary care institutions in the month of April to June 2023. We targeted the adult population with of at least 18 years old and exposure history was taken and serology of HBV and HCV in venous blood samples was carried out. The independent predictors of infection were determined.

Results: HBV seroprevalence and HCV seroprevalence of 385 subjects were 3.1 per cent (95% CI: 1.6-5.3) and 26.5 per cent (95% CI:22.1-31.2), respectively. There was more prevalence of HCV as compared to HBV among both urban (25.0% vs 2.9%) and rural (28.9% vs 3.5%) populations without any difference between the two (p = 0.603). Following correction, certain vocations (engineers and shopkeepers: aOR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.14–3.14; p = 0.014) and illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.15, 95% CI: 1.35–3.42; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of HBV/HCV infection. There was no significant correlation found between age, sex, residency, diabetes, transfusion, and surgery history.

Conclusion: High prevalence of HCV in Faisalabad indicates the necessity of specific, localized public health programs as it is evident that the area requires regular screening, enhanced infection control, greater number of vaccinations, and community education of low literacy people and risk professionals.