Abstract
Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate sero-prevalence of HBs Ag(Hepatitis-B surface antigen), its knowledge and attitudes in preoperative general surgerypatients in Quetta, Pakistan. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration ofStudy: This study was carried out (April - September, 2016) and was screened in BalochistanLab Brewery Road, Quetta. Methodology: 1000 preoperative patients from four ethnic groupspredominantly present in surgical department of multiple hospitals of Quetta. Serum wassubjected to chromatography immunoassay (ICT) and samples were reconfirmed throughEnzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Demographical data, knowledge and attitudes werealso collected using valid predesigned questionnaire. Results : Overall, prevalence 7.0% wereobserved with highest in Baloch population, 10.3 %, followed by Hazara community, 8.0 %,While Pashtoon were with 5.7 % and Panjabi population with 2.3 %. Statistically non-significantdifference was observed in males and female population (P < 0.05). 03 of the patients werefalse negative with ICT when reconfirmed by ELISA. Overall, population show poor knowledgeand attitudes in preoperative surgery patients toward Hepatitis B infection. Conclusion: TheHBs Ag determination using rapid Immunochromatography device test should only be used formass scale screening and results may be verified with ELISA to eliminate the chances of falsenegative cases.
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