Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Pakistan: A Study of 1300 Individuals
Author Information
Author(s): Alam Muhammad Masroor, Zaidi Soahil Zahoor, Malik Salman Akbar, Naeem Asif, Shaukat Shahzad, Sharif Salmaan, Angez Mehar, Khan Anis, Butt Javed Aslam
Primary Institution: National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hypothesis
What are the epidemiological factors associated with Hepatitis B virus infection in the Pakistani population?
Conclusion
The study found a high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in Pakistan, indicating an urgent need for vaccination and public awareness campaigns.
Supporting Evidence
- 4% of individuals screened were positive for HBsAg.
- The mean age of individuals positive for HBsAg was 23.5 years.
- HBsAg seropositivity was significantly associated with rural locality.
- Poverty was linked to a higher rate of HBV infection.
Takeaway
This study looked at 1300 people in Pakistan to see how many had Hepatitis B, and it found that many people are infected, especially in rural areas.
Methodology
The study screened 1300 individuals for HBV infection markers and analyzed the association with their demographics.
Potential Biases
The study may be biased as it did not include high-risk populations like intravenous drug users.
Limitations
The study lacked information on certain risk factors like blood transfusions and unsafe practices.
Participant Demographics
Participants included males and females aged 8–53 years from various localities in Pakistan.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
3.8 (1.6–9.8)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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