A Statistical study Regarding Knowledge and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C in Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Background:. Hepatitis B and C is considered to be a significant threat to the mankind around the globe. Hepatitis is one of the major viral disease affecting significant proportion of population not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. This threat is most alarming in developing countries where poverty, illiteracy may contribute to the high risk for causes of Hepatitis B and C Pakistan is highly endemic for Hepatitis B and C. Objective: The objective of the present study were to investigate the risk factor of hepatitis among the people of Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu & Kashmir and also to check the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in the presence of different risk factors. And to investigate the relationship between education, area and gender with hepatitis. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over a sample of 400 respondents based on multistage sampling technique. The chi-square test was used to assess the statistical significance to different risk factors with blood transfusion. The multiple logistic regression, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were also used to get the most significant risk factors of hepatitis B and C. Results: the study shows that the most dominant risk factors of the hepatitis B and c that were age group 15-20 (OR=2.621), 21-26 (OR=1.344) 27-31 (OR=1.005) with 95% CI. Marital status that is married (OR= 0.438) Un-married (OR= 0.850), education at different level that is Primary (OR=0.728), Secondary (OR=0.973), graduate (OR=0.688), knowledge about hepatitis B and C, yes (OR=1.412), No (OR=1.547), history of ear piercing (OR=1.401), Re-use of syringes (OR=1.250, 2.498), sexual relation with affected person (OR=3.943, 1.877). Mann-Whitney U test with gender and area of the respondents with values (15759.500, p-value=.005) and (18907.00, p-value=.266).It was found that there is difference between male and female opinion regarding knowledge about hepatitis B and C there was same knowledge about risk factor of hepatitis B and C among the people of rural and urban areas. The study shows that the educated people have more awareness and knowledge regarding hepatitis B and C.