AWARENESS ABOUT THEIR DISEASE IN HEPATITIS B & C PATIENTS FROM AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN ATTENDING REHMAN MEDICAL INSTITUTE

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B & C are global health hazards with high levels of endemicity, incidence and prevalence. In developing countries, the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C is related to lack of public health education and information, so that people are exposed to health risks for these diseases. Rehman Medical Institute (RMI), a private tertiary care hospital, located close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, caters to a large Afghan population suffering from both types of Hepatitis. The present study is designed to determine the level of knowledge of Pakistani and Afghan patients regarding risk factors, prevention, transmission, sequelae and treatment of these diseases.

Materials & Methods: The hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at RMI for 04 months (Nov 2014 to Feb 2015). Two hundred (200) patients of Hepatitis B and/or C, of both genders and of ages 10-80 years were recruited from the Outpatients and Inpatients of the hospital through convenience sampling. Data were collected through a pretested, self-administered questionnaire translated in local languages after prior explanation and informed consent for participation in the study. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS version 15.0. Comparisons were done for nationality (Pakistani and Afghan) and gender. The Chi Square test and the Student T test were used for significance testing, with p ≤ 0.05 denoting significance.

Results: The response rate was 98% (196/200). Significant differences were noted in 12 out of 23 items of the questionnaire between the Hepatitis patients of both countries. In general, patients from Pakistan showed better awareness than their Afghan counterparts. However, in the three items related to practices of checking partners and family members, both groups showed similar performances. Key identifiable risk factors were related to deficient knowledge about types of Hepatitis, sources of acquiring the diseases, transmission of the diseases and prevention of antenatal transmission; an additional risk factor was the low level of practice of checking partners and family members for Hepatitis.

Conclusion: Medical counseling and public awareness of patients of Hepatitis B & C is deficient in a number of important areas related to knowledge and practices, more so for the Afghan patients than those from Pakistan.