Screening and Risk Assessment of Hepatitis B and C Among Medical Students and Non-teaching Staff of Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore

Rabiah Mahwish ¹, Fatima Abbas ², Muhammad Qasim Ali ²

⁰Community Medicine, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot, PAK.

Cureus +

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November 10, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Hepatitis B and C screening at SIMS Lahore found no hepatitis B cases but four hepatitis C cases. Routine screening is recommended, especially for those with risk factors.

Area Of Science

Hepatology
Public Health
Epidemiology

Background

Hepatitis B and C pose significant global health risks.
Screening in educational institutions is crucial for early detection and prevention.

Purpose Of The Study

To screen and assess hepatitis B and C risk among medical students and non-teaching staff at Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Lahore.
To identify prevalence and risk factors associated with these viral infections in the study population.

Main Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 385 participants (medical students and non-teaching staff).
Utilized non-probability convenience sampling and a modified Hepatitis Risk Assessment Tool from the CDC.
Hepatitis B and C screening conducted using self-financed kits.

Main Results

No participants tested positive for hepatitis B; four tested positive for hepatitis C.
Significant proportions lacked hepatitis B vaccination (216) or had risk factors like injecting drug use (51) and abnormal LFTs (34).
Mean age was 23.98 ± 6.686 years, with some history of blood transfusion (11) and dialysis (3).

Conclusions

Hepatitis C prevalence was low but present, while hepatitis B was undetected in this cohort.
Incomplete hepatitis B vaccination and identified risk factors highlight the need for targeted interventions.
Routine hepatitis screening in educational settings is vital for controlling viral hepatitis.

Keywords:

hepatitis b hepatitis c medical students risk assessment screening