Assessment of Knowledge About the Risk Factors of Chronic Liver Disease in Patients Admitted in Civil Hospital Karachi

Abstract

BackgroundChronic liver disease (CLD) encompasses a series of single or multifactorial insults to the liver, most common of which are hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and non-alcoholic liver disease. CLD represents a major public health problem worldwide as well as in Pakistan. Unfortunately, studies evaluating the awareness of its risk factors among people are quite scarce. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge about risk factors of CLD in patients admitted to Dr. Ruth K M Pfau, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).MethodsThis quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at CHK, among 368 patients admitted to CHK, during the period from February 2018 to September 2018. Frequencies and percentages were evaluated for categorical variables using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Chi-square test was applied to determine if there was any significant association between the variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsA scoring scale was developed to assess the level of knowledge. We found that only 32% of our study population had good knowledge about the risk factors of CLD while majority of them (68%) had poor knowledge. Regarding individual risk factors, >60% patients were aware that obesity, high fat intake, prolonged use of drugs, use of alcohol and hepatitis B and C are risk factors of CLD, while most of them did not know diabetes to be a risk factor as well. 51.4% patients thought that hepatitis B and C could not be transmitted via sexual contact and from mother to her baby. There was a positive association between education level and awareness about the risk factors of CLD (p = 0.006).ConclusionFuture interventions to increase public awareness about CLD should promptly be taken. The lack of knowledge about this disease is the main cause of its rapid increment and the reason why it is so prevalent in our part of the world especially Pakistan. More studies and nationwide awareness programs are needed to control its spread.

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“…This is relevant if we consider that 35% of the participants had a university level of education. Our results are consistent with a recent survey about the awareness of chronic liver disease risk factors in 368 patients admitted in Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan 16 . In this study, even though 39% of the sample had received no formal education and only 6% had received university education, 70% of interviewees (vs. 61% in our study) acknowledged HCV as a cause of chronic liver disease and, similarly to our survey, only half of the respondents correctly answered about HCV transmission via unprotected sexual contact, sharing of personal hygiene items and via mother to foetus.…”

“…This is relevant if we consider that 35% of the participants had a university level of education. Our results are consistent with a recent survey about the awareness of chronic liver disease risk factors in 368 patients admitted in Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan16 . In this study, even though 39% of the sample had received no formal education TA B L E 2…”

“…These data make sense and are consistent with the published literature. In fact, in a 2002 community survey, Pakistani women appeared to be more informed about viral hepatitis 18 ; higher level of education has proved both among immigrant and indigenous high-prevalence communities to be positively associated with a better awareness about HCV 11,16 ;…”

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“…The number of deaths by this lethal disease is among the highest worldwide [ 1 ]. In Pakistan, the figure of patients with cirrhosis is quite high, and unfortunately more than 65% of the cases are due to hepatitis B and C, both of which are preventable by standard community health services [ 2 ].…”

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“…Hepatitis C is the leading cause of Cirrhosis in Pakistan. 3 Approximately 10 million peoples have been infected with Hepatitis C infection in Pakistan. 4 It is estimated that 3% of the world's population has been infected with Hepatitis C infection.…”