Epidemiological Study of Viral Hepatitis B And C in General Population of District Bannu Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan

Abstract

The epidemiology of HBV and HCV infections varies with geographic contexts, as do socioeconomic status, genotypic dispersion and impacted by a number of risk factors. The current study was conducted during January 2024 to August 2025 in the department of Pathology Khalifa Gul Nawaz (KGN) teaching hospital township Bannu, for the assessment of epidemiological study of HBV and HCV in district Bannu. In the present study total of 2149 samples were screened, among these 549 (25.54%) were HBV and 1600 (74.46%) were HCV. In HBV 132 (24.04%) were tested positive, while in HCV 400 (25.0%) were tested positive. Further, high prevalence was recorded in males 90(28.6%) compared to females 42(17.9%). In HBV, the age group 1-20 years and age group 41-60 years for HCV were more susceptible to the both infections. The study showed a higher prevalence in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Centrifugation was used to separate the serum from the corresponding blood samples for 10 minutes at 5000 rpm. The serum were examined for the presence of anti-HBsAg and anti-HCVcAg and other substances such HBsAb, HBeAb, HBc AB and anti-HCVcAg or CORE antigen. There is a terrible need to enhance the hepatitis awareness, founding of vigorous hepatitis immunization, hepatitis micro elimination programs comprising district Bannu by government of Pakistan.