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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of Hepatitis B and C in pregnant women.Study Design: An observational study.Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Bakhtawar Amin Trust Hospital, Multan, Pakistan from September 2022 to September 2023.Methods: A total of 500 pregnant women who were in their 1st trimester and tested positive for chorionicgonadotropin hormone were selected for the study by consecutive sampling. A 5ml blood sample was drawnfrom all women, and serum samples were separated, stored, and then processed by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis B antigen was identified in each serum sample using ELISA. ELISA kitswere used to test the anti-HCV antibodies. Patients were also tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)by HIV1/2 STAT PACK and ARBON.Results: The prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 25 (5%) and 10 (2%), respectively. Only one subjectwas infected with both viruses (2.8%). Eight of the women infected with the Hepatitis B virus were also positivefor HIV. HBV showed high prevalence in rural residents (5%), patients who had undergone blood transfusion(20%), and those with sexually transmitted diseases (20%). Women with HIV were twice the risk of infection(OR: 2.1 (2-6.3)). Women with sexually transmitted diseases were eightfold more at risk (OR: 8.5), and womenwho had undergone blood transfusion were seven times more susceptible to infection (OR: 7.3 (3.2-17.1)).Women aged between 17 and 25 were at threefold more risk of Hepatitis C infection than older women (OR: 3.5(1.5-9.2)). A high prevalence was noted in women with sexually transmitted diseases (13.3%)Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infection in first-trimester pregnant women was 5% and 2%.The prevalence of viral hepatitis was associated with young age (25 years or younger), which suggested theimportance of early antenatal screening and hepatitis vaccine to reduce the risk of mother-to-childtransmission.
How to cite this: Qureshi HZ, Khan B, Iftikhar A, Imran H Iqbal MA. An Observational Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C in Pregnant Women at Bakhtawar Amin Trust Hospital. Life and Science. 2025; 6(3): 387-393. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.569