Status of Hepatitis-B Virus Carriers in the Patients of NIUM Hospital

Abstract

Chronic Hepatitis-B is a common disease with an estimated global prevalence of more than 300 million carriers, or approximately 5% of the world’s population. The prevalence of Hepatitis-B Virus (HBV) varies widely in different parts of the world. Local factors influence the prevalence of HBV infection in a particular community including the ethnic mixture of the populations, frequency of injection drugs use and proportion of the population engaging in the high risk sexual activity. The overall carrier rate in India is often quoted as being 4.7%. Chronic hepatitis-B infection may occur as a chronic persistent and chronic active hepatitis, which eventually leads to liver cirrhosis and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV vaccine is highly effective. More than 95% of patients develop antibody against surface antigen, and the attack rate of HBV infection is only 3.2% in vaccine recipients. The present study was a cross-sectional hospital based survey, embarked upon to know the prevalence of HBV carriers in patients attending NIUM, to evaluate the awareness in people about the vaccination, and to create the awareness in the patients and the paramedical staff of the NIUM hospital during the study. A total of 903 patients irrespective of age and sex were included in the study. Information related to demography, anthropometry, personal history, and family history of HB infection, liver cancer and jaundice was obtained through pre-tested, semi-structured schedule. Venous blood samples were drawn for HBsAg detection. To create the awareness regarding the HBV infection, all patients were educated about the risk factors, complications, routes of transmission, treatment and the prevention. The overall prevalence of HBV infection in the study population was 2.18%. The prevalence of HBV infection in the age group 1-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & above was as 10%, 21%, 37%, 5%, 16%, 11% and 0% respectively. The prevalence of HBV infection in volunteers of habit of addiction was as 27% in smokers, 5% in alcoholics, 5% in both smokers and alcoholics. The persons found positive for HBV infection were all non-vaccinated. The prevalence in Married volunteers was 79% and in Un-married it was 21%. The prevalence was 89% in those volunteers who did not have the knowledge about Hepatitis-B and only few 11% volunteers have given the family history of Hepatitis-B and Blood transfusion etc.