Risk factors; comparison in hepatitis B and C carrier pregnant women and healthy pregnant women

ABSTRACT

To determine the risk factors associated with hepatitis B and C carriers versus healthy pregnant women. It was a single center based, cross sectional comparative study, conducted at Gynae ward II, B-V hospital Bahawalpur. Duration of study was from March to August 2008. 100 patients were enrolled in the two groups, 50 HbsAg/Anti HCV positive women [cases] to compare with 50 healthy women [controls] match for parity. The data were recorded on a proforma. 100 pregnant women were enrolled. Sixty eight [68.0%] were aged 25 years or less with a mean age +/- S.D of 24.62 +/- 3.40. Ten [20%] women had HBV and 40[80%] were HCV positive. The risk factors were compared between the two groups by uni-variate and multivariate analysis which showed that history of dental treatment, blood transfusion, surgery, parenteral treatment and jaundice were significant risk factors for hepatitis B and C carrier status. There appears to be a strong co-relation of history of blood transfusion and dental treatment with HbsAg/ Anti HCV carrier state in pregnant women. The anti HCV seropositivity was appreciably high [80%] as compared to HbsAg [20%] in carrier pregnant women