Viral Hepatitis Among Pregnant Womens

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infectionand various etiological factors associated with it among pregnant females. Study Design:cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: It was done at Ayub Teaching Hospital,Abbottabad in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology from 1ST Jan 2016 to 31st December2016. Methodology: A total of 474 pregnant females of age between 15-45 years were includedin the study through consecutive sampling. Blood samples were sent for HBsAg and HCV forexamination through ELISA. Samples were analyzed by the pathologist with >5 years clinicalexperience. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 3.4% and 7.5%of the primigravida pregnant women studied were hepatitis B and C sero-positive. Conclusion:The need to institute public health measures to reduce disease burden and transmission,including routine screening of all pregnant mothers for HBV and HCV infections.