Prevalence and Risk Factors Association With Hepatitis B and C Infected Pregnant Ladies Visiting Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar: An Unmatched Pilot Case-Control Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and their association with Hepatitis B and C infection among pregnant females visiting Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar.Methods: A pilot case-control study was conducted in the Gynecology & Obstetrics units of Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar after being approved by the institutional IRB Committee. A consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll 21 pregnant females in a ratio of 1: 1 among both groups. The included cases were HBsAg positive with ELIZA positive HCV while the negative ones were in the control group. A validated research tool from previous studies was used. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS Version-19. Descriptive and inferential statistics like frequency, percentages, 95% confidence interval, chi-square and odds ratio were applied with cut-off p-value limit set at 0.05. Results:The mean age for cases and controls was 37±9 and 28±6 years. The seroprevalence of HBV was 28.9% and HCV as 61.9%. Abortion history OR=1.23 (95% Cl=0.34-4.35), hospitalization OR=2.90 (Cl=0.77-10.8), past surgical procedure , delivery in hospital OR=4.26 (Cl=1.13-16.05), injection in hospitals OR=1.47 (Cl=0.43-5.04), household contact with jaundice OR=5.66 (Cl=1.41-22.7) were the significant risk factors. Normal vaginal delivery ) and history of sexually transmitted infections OR=2.23 (Cl=0.36-13.7) were independently associated with HBV, and HCV. Conclusion:Hepatitis C prevalence rate was more with blood transfusions, unsafe injections, tooth extractions, home deliveries with past history of sexually transmitted infections, abortion, hepatitis infection, and hospital admissions as the significant risk factors among pregnant women.