Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Hospital Attendees: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Authors

  • Sanjiv Kumar Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India
  • Kalyani Kala Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India
  • Richa Sharma Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.
  • Trinain Kumar Chakraverti Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.
  • Arvind Kumar Professor and HOD, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2654

Keywords:

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, seroprevalence, HBsAg, anti-HCV, hospital attendees, Bihar, cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections impose a considerable burden on global liver health. In India, the prevalence of these infections shows wide regional variation, and data from tertiary institutions in Bihar remain sparse. Understanding the burden among hospital attendees at a teaching hospital aids in formulating targeted screening and preventive strategies.

 Methodology:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, from January 2025 to December 2025. Records of 200 hospital attendees who had undergone serological testing for HBsAg (by ELISA) and anti-HCV antibodies (by third-generation ELISA) were analysed. Demographic details, risk factor profiles, and biochemical parameters were retrieved from hospital records and evaluated.

 Results:

Among 200 participants (mean age 36.4 ± 14.2 years; 59% male), HBsAg seropositivity was found in 28 (14.0%) and anti-HCV reactivity in 23 (11.5%) individuals. HBV-HCV co-infection was identified in 6 (3.0%) cases. The 31–40 year age group bore the highest HBV burden (35.7%), while HCV prevalence peaked among those aged 51–60 years. Unscreened blood transfusion was the most frequently identified risk factor for both infections.

 Conclusion:

The seroprevalence of HBV (14.0%) and HCV (11.5%) among hospital attendees at this tertiary institution in Bihar is appreciably higher than national estimates, highlighting the urgent need for routine screening, targeted health education, and expansion of the hepatitis B vaccination programme in this region.

 Recommendation:

Mandatory pre-operative and antenatal HBV and HCV screening, enforcement of safe injection and blood transfusion practices, and community-level vaccination drives are recommended. Linkage of all seropositive individuals to antiviral care pathways should be systematically ensured.

Author Biographies

Sanjiv Kumar, Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India

Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India. His research interests include clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, and viral hepatitis epidemiology.

Kalyani Kala, Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India

Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India. Her academic interests include diagnostic microbiology and public health microbiology.

Richa Sharma, Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.

Tutor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India. Her research focuses on infectious disease surveillance, seroepidemiology, and laboratory diagnostics.

Trinain Kumar Chakraverti, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India. His research interests include clinical microbiology, medical education, and infectious disease epidemiology.

Arvind Kumar, Professor and HOD, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India.

Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India. His areas of expertise include medical microbiology, infection control, and public health research.

References

World Health Organization. Global hepatitis report 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240091672

Lavanchy D. Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures. J Viral Hepat. 2004;11(2):97–107.

Puri P. Tackling the hepatitis B disease burden in India. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2014;4(4):312–9.

Goel A, Seghal R, Aggarwal R. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in India: a systematic review. Indian J Gastroenterol. 2019;38(2):101–12.

National Health Mission, Government of Bihar. State health resource report: communicable diseases burden. Patna: NHM Bihar; 2023.

Strickland GT. Liver disease in Egypt: hepatitis C superseded schistosomiasis as a result of iatrogenic and biological factors. Hepatology. 2006;43(5):915–22.

Liu CJ, Chuang WL, Sheen IS, Wang HY, Chen CY, Lai MY, et al. Efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and coexisting hepatitis B virus infection. J Infect Dis. 2009;199(9):1332–40.

Phukan AC, Borah PK, Mahanta J. Hepatitis B in Assam, India. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2001;32(2):237–40.

Banerjee D, Bhaumik M, Chowdhury A. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B among agricultural workers in rural West Bengal and Bihar. Indian J Community Med. 2014;39(3):145–8.

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Blood safety guidelines for India. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 2007.

Terrault NA, Lok ASF, McMahon BJ, Chang KM, Hwang JP, Jonas MM, et al. Update on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hepatitis B: AASLD 2018 hepatitis B guidance. Hepatology. 2018;67(4):1560–99.

Sarkar K, Bal B, Mukherjee R, Saha MK, Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya S, et al. Epidemic of HIV coupled with hepatitis C virus among injecting drug users of Manipur, northeastern India. Epidemiol Infect. 2006;134(1):91–8.

Mukherjee PN, Bhatacharya B, Guha S, Mitra U, Biswas R, Saha A. Cryptic hepatitis B infection in eastern India. Hepatol Int. 2012;6(3):643–50.

Antaki N, Craxi A, Kamal S, Moucari R, Van der Merwe S, Haffar S, et al. The neglected hepatitis C virus genotypes 4, 5, and 6: an international consensus report. Liver Int. 2010;30(3):342–55.

Asselah T, Marcellin P. New direct-acting antivirals' combination for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Liver Int. 2011;31(Suppl 1):68–77.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Kumar, S. ., Kala, K. ., Sharma, R. ., Chakraverti, T. K. ., & Kumar, A. . (2026). Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Hospital Attendees: A Cross-Sectional Study. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 7(3), 11. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2654

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2026): March 2026 Issue

Section

Section of Microbiology Research

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Sanjiv Kumar, Kalyani Kala, Richa Sharma, Trinain Kumar Chakraverti, Arvind Kumar

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)