Antenatal screening for hepatitis B and C virus infection in pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of Hepatitis B and C virus infection in pregnant women and to assess whether it is more common in multigravida as compared to primigravida. A Descriptive Cross Sectional study carried out in the out patient department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics department of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from August to October 2010. An open and close-ended questionnaire was self designed for this purpose. Data relating to medical, surgical, gynaecological and obstetric history, with particular references to hospital admissions and intravenous interventions was collected through convenience sampling. One hundred and forty pregnant women were questioned. The age of patients varied from 21 to 45 years [mean 28.66 years]. Out of 140 females, 44 [31.4%] females were primigravidas while 96 [68.6%] were multigravidas. Eight [5.7%] females were found positive for HBsAg and 18 [12.8%] were found positive for HCV antibodies by third generation ELISA. It was observed that 0% primigravida and 8.3% cases of multigravida were HBsAg positive cases [p = 0.049]. Frequency of HCV was 4.5% in primigravidas and 16.7% in multigravidas [p = 0.047].Various risk factors like, history of blood transfusion 27.1%, and IV injection 91.4%, were identified. The hepatitis B vaccination rate was only 24.3%. The frequency of Hepatitis B and C infection was 5.7% and 12.8% respectively in pregnant females as compared to the general population. The multigravidas were at a higher risk of HBV and HCV exposure than primigravida