PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IN THE KHAIRPUR REGION, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Viral hepatitis remains a serious public health concern in Pakistan, particularly in the Sindh province where unsafe medical practices and insufficient awareness contribute to high infection rates. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of viral hepatitis among diagnosed patients in the Khairpur region. Purposive sampling was used to choose 500 confirmed hepatitis patients from university and different hospitals of Khairpur Mir's. A standardized questionnaire covering demographics, exposure history, clinical symptoms, and type of hepatitis was used to gather data. The results showed that males accounted for 79% of the cases, with teens and young adults having the highest prevalence. The most prevalent form was found to be Hepatitis C, which was followed by Hepatitis B. Several major risk factors were identified, including previous blood transfusions (44%), family contact with sick patients (50%), and inadequate understanding regarding transmission channels. Despite most participants having access to safe drinking water (66%), a majority lacked basic knowledge of hepatitis prevention (66%). Fever (30%), weariness (22%), abdominal discomfort (15%), Jaundice (10%), and joint pain (8%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. In order to stop the development of hepatitis in Khairpur, the study emphasizes the critical need for better awareness campaigns, safer medical procedures, and regular screening. Reducing community transmission requires increasing vaccination rates and enforcing stringent sanitation procedures in medical facilities. Further study with bigger sample sizes is recommended to explore changing epidemiological trends and increase public health interventions.