title: Identification of risk factors for hepatitis B and C in Peshawar, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B and C need immediate worldwide attention as the infection rates are too high. More than 240 million people have chronic (long-term) liver infections. Every year, about 600,000 people die globally due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B and more than 350,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study was designed as a case-control, descriptive study. It was conducted through formal interviews by using structured questionnaires. A total of 100 cases were included, with four controls for each case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study confirms household contact, history of dental work, history of surgery, sexual contact, and history of transfusion (blood and its components) as the main risk factors which are responsible for the increased prevalence of hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The important risk factors, responsible for the high prevalence of hepatitis B and C in our society are household contact, history of dental work, history of surgery, sexual contact, and history of transfusion (blood and its components). The odds ratio of probability for these risk factors are: 4.2 for household contact history, 4.1 for history of dental work, 3.9 for sexual contact, 2.7 for history of surgery, and 2.1 for history of transfusion. Associations of other predictor variables (diabetes status, education level, profession, contact sports, intravenous drug abuse, residence, immunosuppression, and skin tattoos) were not statistically significant.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, University Town, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Shafiq
authors: Department of General Surgery, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Nadeem
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Khyber Medical College, University Campus, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors: Zeeshan
authors: Z
authors: Sattar
authors: Department of General Surgery, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors: Sohaib Mohammad
authors: SM
authors: Khan
authors: Department of Neurology, King Edward Medical University, Anarkali, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Sheikh Muhammad
authors: SM
authors: Faheem
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: Ahsan
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Rabia
authors: R
authors: Naheed
authors: Department of General Surgery, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors: Tahir Mehmood
authors: TM
authors: Khattak
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Lady Reading Hospital, Andar Shehr, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors: Shahzad
authors: S
authors: Akbar
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Khyber Medical College, University Campus, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Talha
authors: MT
authors: Khan
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, University Town, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Ilyas
authors: MI
authors: Khan
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Hayat Abad, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Zubair
authors: MZ
authors: Khan
keywords: IV drug abuse; dental work; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; sexual contact; surgery; transfusion