A ANALYTICAL CASE CONTROL STUDY OF THE RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B AMONG ADULT RURAL POPULATION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection induced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is an enveloped deoxygenated ribonucleic acid (DNA) virus. It is an important global health problem that causes chronic infection and increases the risk of dying from cirrhosis and liver cancer. It can range from asymptomatic infection or mild disease to severe or rarely fulminant hepatitis. Materials and Methods: Analytical case control study design was used to study risk factors responsible for transmission of Hepatitis B in the villages of Telangana state which is the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, Osmania Medical College, Koti, Hyderabad, Telangana. It was part of a rural screening programme using health camp approach. Health camps were organized in 2 randomly selected villages of all 17 subcentres of rangareddy district between January 2023 to September 2023. Villagers availed general health check-up and were offered screening test for several diseases including HBsAg for HBV. HbsAg testing was done using standard Eliza kits at laboratory. Positive samples were re-checked by different kit.
Results: Among 52 persons found HbsAg positive, 2 were excluded as per exclusion criteria. One did not turn up for the interview. Finally 5 OMC 0 cases and 100 matching controls identified as per methodology enrolled for the study. Among the cases maximum (32%) were in age group 20–30 years, 62% were males and 90% were married. Maximum no (55%) belonged to lower social class followed by lower middle class (32%). There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to age, gender, marital status and social class (p≥0.05). H/o jaundice 6 months ago or more in past in 52% cases and 25% of controls (p=0.00, OR=3.58); contact with hepatitis B in 18% cases vs 5% controls (p=0.00,OR=4.17), family history of Hepatitis B in 32% cases and 8% controls (p=0.00,OR=5.41) was present