Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Hepatitis B in Nomadic Community: A Case Study of Faisalabad District

Muhammad  Riaz; Zahoor Hussain  Javed; Wafa  Idrees; Samra  Subhani; Muhammad  Shabbir; Muhammad Ikhlaq  Anwar; Afsheen  Aslam

doi:10.29054/apmc/2019.1267

Muhammad Riaz M.Phil. Scholar, Government College University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Zahoor Hussain Javed Department of Economics, Government College University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Wafa Idrees Ex-House Officer, Dental Department University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad Pakistan
Samra Subhani PHD Scholar, Department of Economics Government College University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Muhammad Shabbir Department of Sociology, Government College University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Muhammad Ikhlaq Anwar Department of Biochemistry, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Afsheen Aslam M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Economics, Government College University, Faisalabad Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2019.1267

Keywords: Hepatitis, Nomads, Socioeconomic status, Faisalabad

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B is a chronic infection of the liver that can cause liver failure and cancer. This may create high risk of death among the people. The virus of Hepatitis is shifted from one person to another through the blood or fluids of infected person. This may affect the people living in the nomadic community. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate empirical association between Socio- economic factors and hepatitis B (HBV) among nomadic community in district Faisalabad. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: Department of Economics, GC University Faisalabad. Duration: June, 2018 to July, 2018. Sample size: The calculated sample was 300 nomadic individuals. Sampling techniques: A questionnaire comprising of variables gender, smoking, house hold income and life satisfaction was developed to collect primary data by using snow-ball technique in 300 individuals of different age groups. Data Analysis: Gender, Smoking, Dental hygiene, Living standard and Life satisfaction were the different variables included in this study. The data was analyzed with E-views software package. The Binary logistic regression and the Kruskal-Wallis tests are applied to see influence of socioeconomic factors on hepatitis B (HBV). Results: Around 71.7% people were very poor while 28.3% were poor. From the total respondents 38.00% were found to be the patients of Hepatitis B while 56.33% were found to be quite healthy and 5.67% did not know their status regarding hepatitis B. Conclusion: This study concluded that lack of health care facilities and low household income has negative effect on occurrence of hepatitis B infection. Suggestions: Government should invest more budget on health care facilities and awareness of nomadic community to improve their life.