Prevalence of Hepatitis C in pregnant patients visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in Faisalabad.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2020.27.12.4358Keywords:
Hepatitis C, PrevalenceAbstract
Objectives: To determine prevalence of Hepatitis C among pregnant female visiting a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Observational study. Setting: Independent University Hospital Faisalabad. Period: 1-1-2018 to 31-12-2018. Material & Methods: Total 4210 pregnant patients visited during this time period. Results: During the study period i-e from 1-1-2018 to 31-12-2018, total 4210 obstetric patients visited Independent University Hospital. Among them 463 were Anti HCV +with % age of 10.9. Our study showed that 28 patients (6%) were <19 yrs of age, 35 patients (7%) were 20 to 25 yrs. 48 patients (10%) were 26 to 29 yrs.151 patients (32%) were 30 to 35 yrs of age. 201 patients (43%) were more than 35 yrs. Our result has shown that most of the infected patients were having their 5th or more pregnancy (202%). 182 patients (39%) were G4 or G5.47 patients (10%) were having their 2nd or 3rd pregnancy while only 32 (6%) primigravidas had this infection. Our study has shown that 325(70%) patients were of rural background while 135(29%) patients belonged to urban areas. When these Hepatitis C+ve patients were analyzed for risk factors, 91 had some dental manipulation in the past (19%), 104 had history of previous blood transfusion or some parental infusions (22%) 32 patients (6.9%) had their partners infected with Hepatitis C. 161 patients (34%) had history of some surgery or previous vaginal delivery at some centre where sterilization was not standardized. 75 patients (16%) had no identifiable risk factor. Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis C is quite high in pregnant patients of Faisalabad. There is a dire need to address the factors involved in transmission of disease. Health policies should be revised to decrease the spread of this virus. Increased awareness is needed among the people regarding its transmission and early diagnosis so that curative measures should be timely taken to avoid the dreadful complications of Hepatitis C.
