Hepatitis –C Transmission; Frequency of Common Risk Factors Transmitting Disease among Adults

Objective: To determine common risk factors transmitting hepatitis C among adult population and their frequency.

Design & duration: This is a prospective study completed in duration of six months from July 2019 to December 2019.

Setting: Study was conducted at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur.

Patients &methods: Patients reporting to out-patient doors of the study institution with hepatitis-C during study period were included in this study. Consecutive sampling technique was used. Sample size determined using WHO sample size calculator. A performa was designed in which all necessary data was documented in the form of questions having multiple options. Right option was selected according to patient response. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were made for selection of study cases. All collected data was analyzed using SPSS software. Chi square test was applied. Stratification of risk factors was done. P-value less than 0.05 were taken significant. Frequency and percentage for qualitative variables and means, SD determined for quantitative variables 

Results: Total 130 cases were included in study sample. Age range was 25-59 years with mean age 45.42±5.6 (SD) years. There were 9.2% between 20-30 years, 20% between 31-40 years, 31.5% between 31-40 years and 39.2% between 51-60 years of age. There were 58.5% male and 41.5% female cases. Most common transmission factor reported was history of dental procedure in 33.1% of our study population. 

Conclusion: Hepatitis-C is a very common disease in Pakistani population more common in old age and most common mode of transmission was dental procedures and second most common factor was infected blood transfusion