Assessment of risk factors associated with sociodemographic status of hepatitis. A cross-sectional study from Pakistani population

Introduction: One of the most urgent health concerns in Pakistan is the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection. Despite the availability of potent antiviral medications, the overall burden of the illness has not diminished, possibly due to the asymptomatic nature of the infection, leading to delayed diagnosis. This study was conducted to assess risk factors associated with the sociodemographic status of Hepatitis C disease in Pakistani patients. Methodology: This study adopts a cross-sectional design, employing a questionnaire-based Performa to collect data from the Pakpattan district. This hospital-based, study was conducted in Pakpattan, the largest district in Punjab province, Pakistan, and collected data of 500 patients. Results: The study reveals a higher frequency of male patients than females, with more individuals belonging to nuclear families than joint families. Unmarried individuals face greater risk than married multiple times, and more people reside in rural areas than urban areas. The average family size does not differ between cases and controls, and the prevalence of uneducated individuals is higher than educated individuals. Gender, family status, and residence exhibit non-significant results, age, marital status, family size, and education status show significant associations. The multivariate analysis indicates p-values below the significance threshold, reinforcing the reliability of the results. Conclusion: Hepatitis C infections are more prevalent in males, and socioeconomic status significantly influences its distribution in both genders. Education emerges as a crucial factor in the spread of this disease. Establishing Hepatitis-related societies for awareness campaigns is essential to facilitate early detection and treatment.