FREQUENCY OF SEROPOSITIVITY OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AND RISK BEHAVIOUR IN PREGNANT WOMEN

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Posted in Volume 15 - Number 3

FOUZIA PERVEEN, ROZINA YASIR, AMBREEN BHUTTO

ABSTRACT | Full Text PDF

OBJECTIVE : The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant women and to detect the risk factors for its acquisition.

PATIENTS AND METHODS : This was a prospective case control study carried out over a period of one year in antenatal clinic of Sindh Govt. Lyari General Hospital, Karachi. During this period 1260 pregnant patients were screened for HCV antibodies by ELISA. Age, parity and gestational age of both hepatitis C positive and hepatitis C negative women were noted. History of blood transfusion, jaundice, multiple injections, sexual contact, drug abuse and nose prick were taken to detect their association with the disease in both negative and positive groups. All the results were analyzed on SPSS 15 and independent-t test, chi-square test and logistic regression were utilized where they are required. Significance was evaluated at P – value < 0.05.

RESULTS : The prevalence of HCV antibody positivity was found in 3.4% in study group. Mean age, parity and gestational age were comparable in both groups. History of blood transfusion was present 34.9% of seropositive group as compared to 7% in seronegative group ( P-value 0.00). Logistic regression analysis also depicted strong association between blood transfusion and seropositivity ( CI 0.315-0.025). History of multiple injections and seropositivity also has strong association ( CI 0.062 – 0.489) while the history of jaundice and nose prick were found as significant factor but their strength decreased on logistic regression.

CONCLUSION : This study revealed seropositivity of HCV of 3.4%. Blood transfusion, multiple injection, history of jaundice and nose prick were found to be significant risk factors. Public education regarding proper screening of blood, avoidance of injudicious use of injection and prevention of using shared instrument for nose prick can reduce the prevalence of this deadly disease.