DISTRIBUTION OF HEPATITIS B INFECTED POPULATION BY SEX AND AGE GROUPS IN DISTRICT D.I.KHAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Significant morbidity and mortality is caused by untreated hepatitis B virus infection through cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objectives of our study were to determine distribution of hepatitis B infected population by sex and age groups in District D.I.Khan, Pakistan.Materials Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at District Health Office, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from January 30, 2021 to February 15, 2021. Data was collected for period from March 14, 2013 to January 28, 2021 for 2368 hepatitis B infected cases from population at risk consecutively. Sex and age groups were demographic variables. Data type was nominal for sex and ordinal for age groups. Distribution was analyzed by count, percentage and confidence intervals for proportion for population. Hypotheses for distribution were substantiated by chi-square goodness-of-fit test.Results: Out of 2368 hepatitis B infected population, 1670 (70.52%) were men 698(29.48%) women, and 562 (23.73%) were in age group 0-20 years, 1266 (53.46%) in 21-40 years, 462 (19.51%) in 41-60 years 78 (3.30%) in 60 years. Our distribution by sex (p.00001) and age groups (p.00001) were different than expected respectively.Conclusion: In our study, hepatitis B infection was more common in men than women and most common in age group 21-40 years, followed by 0-20 years, 41-60 years and 60 years. Our observed prevalence of hepatitis B infection in men was higher than expected in women it was lower than expected. Our observed prevalence in the four age groups was not similar to expected.