INCIDENCE OF HEPATITIS B & HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTIONS IN POTENTIAL BLOOD DONORS IN BAHAWALPUR REIGON, PAKISTAN

Introduction: Hepatitis is commonly transmitted during blood transfusion. The study aimed to find the incidence of hepatitis B & C among blood donors in Bahawalpur region and try to find relation of incidence with socio-demographic variables.

Material and Methods: The study was conducted in Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur (BVH). The data was collected by trained nurses working in blood bank in supervision of investigator through a structured record review check list developed by investigator in English. The investigator checked data for completeness and cross check from registers. The collected data had been coded before analysis. Descriptive analysis was done to determine the incidence of hepatitis B & C virus in the study population and its distribution categorized by independent variables i.e. age, gender, marital status, residence and education status of blood donor.

Results: The results indicated that 20 – 23 years old persons have high incidence rate 54.2% for Hepatitis B & 50.0% for Hepatitis C. Males are affected more (93.3% for Hepatitis B & 92.6% for Hepatitis C) as compared to females. Ratio of incidence was also high in uneducated people 39.2% for Hepatitis B & 37.5% for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis B and C were more common in married people 68.3% and 76.1% respectively. People residing in rural areas were also having a higher incidence 58.3% and 64.8% for Hepatitis B and C respectively.

Conclusion: By providing awareness of screening and safe blood transfusion, increasing the literacy rate, better sanitation and disposal facilities for community and preventive measures for avoiding hepatitis transmission to married and people residing in rural areas could be very beneficial in controlling and decreasing the incidence of hepatitis in this area.