Association of socio-demographic characteristics with pattern of health seeking behavior among hepatitis C patients in Pakistan

Objectives: To identify association between socio-demographic characteristics and pattern of health seeking behavior among hepatitis C patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Study design, settings and duration: A descriptive, cross-sectional study done at Aga Khan University Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi between March and May 2013

Patients and Methods: Hepatitis C patients who were coming for treatment at the above 2 sites underwent a filling of questionnaire by the researcher. The questionnaire collected basic demographic information and their health seeking behavior i.e. visit to traditional healer or spiritual healer or medical doctor. Sample size of 250 patients was calculated. Analysis was done by using Chi square test and Fisher's exact test. p-value of 0.05 was considered as statistically significant

Results: A total of 250 hepatitis patients were interviewed. The study showed that patient's occupation and educational level had significant association with their first visit either to a spiritual healer or traditional healer. More educated group consulted the medical doctor while those with none or low education initially went to see spiritual healers [p < 0.008] and second visit was made to traditional healers [p < 0.002]. Patients with larger number of children went less often to visit a medical doctor on their second visit [p = 0.007], and family members belonging to the medical field were more likely to make their first visit to doctors [p < 0.05]

Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics greatly influence the pattern of health seeking behavior among hepatitis C patients

Awareness about hepatitis C among patients suffering from hepatitis C in Karachi, Pakistan

Objectives: To assess the level of awareness about hepatitis C among patients suffering from hepatitis C in Karachi. Pakistan. Study design, settings and duration: A descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted among hepatitis C patients recruited from the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Civil Hospital, Karachi, between March and May 2013

Patients and Methods: A sample size of 247 was calculated using the Open Epi software. Data were collected using a questionnaire and all eligible patients were briefed about the study purpose, risks, benefits, and their rights as participants. All patients who agreed to participate gave written informed consent. The completed questionnaire took a maximum of 2530 minutes. For the data analysis, frequencies and percentages were computed to find out the estimated proportions of different variables

Results: A total of 250 HCV patients participated in the study. Most of the patients had incorrect knowledge about transmission of disease where 76.8% said that it is transmitted through sharing of towel/clothes, coughing [75.2%] or eating in same utensils [53.6%]. Tattooing [66.4%], kissing [66%], sexual intercourse [54.4%], ear and nose piercing [53.6%] were also identified as transmission sources. Almost 91% patients had misconceptions that preventive vaccine for hepatitis C infection is available. Almost 61% patients thought that exposure to needles/syringes was the cause of their hepatitis C while 22% said it was medical instruments. Food and water as the cause of their hepatitis was reported by 19.1%

Conclusion: Patients suffering from hepatitis C have misconceptions about disease transmission, its risk factors, and the availability of preventive vaccine for hepatitis C. There is a dire need to improve public awareness about common diseases and their prevention