Assessment of self-reported prevalence, vaccination status, knowledge and behavioral determinants of hepatitis b and d in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study

Authors

• Sajid Ur Rahman, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
• Yanfei Gao, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
• Fazal Noor, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Pakistan
• Munib Ullah, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan
• Hanif Ur Rahman, CMB Veterinary Research Institute, Pakistan
• Abdul Qadeer, Central South University, China
• Tariq Ullah, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Pakistan
• Xiumei Chi, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China
• Junqi Niu, The First Hospital of Jilin University, China
• Saeed Hamid, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Medicine

Abstract

In Pakistan, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections remain a major concern. This study assessed the self-reported prevalence, vaccination status, knowledge, risk factors, attitude, and behavioral practices related to both viruses in Pakistan, along with the impact of stigma and cultural norms on disease perception and management. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey, and the data was collected from 980 general Pakistani public (mostly 18-34 age) from January 15 to March 15, 2025. Among respondents, 79.2% were male and 20.8% female, while 58.5% did not know hepatitis (p > 0.05). Only 7.3% reported HBV/HDV self-reported diagnosis, lower than previous studies (16.6%), but 21.3% had a family history, indicating higher self-reported prevalence (p < 0.05). Key risk factors included low vaccination coverage (26.4%, χ2 = 41.17, p < 0.001), chronic infection (χ2 = 16.57, p < 0.001), needle-sharing (9.2%), unlicensed dental (10.6%) and medical (19.3%) procedures, and poor glove usage (14.8%) (p < 0.05). Limited public awareness (35.1%) was noted as the major barrier, while 38.4% of respondents acknowledged the presence of stigma. Participants lack adequate knowledge, gaps in vaccination, risky practices, and stigma persist. A comprehensive public health approach is essential to curb HBV/HDV in Pakistan.

Comments

Pagination and issue no# is not provided by author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

Frontiers in microbiology

DOI

10.3389/fmicb.2026.1748793

Recommended Citation

Rahman, S. U., Gao, Y., Noor, F., Ullah, M., Rahman, H., Qadeer, A., Ullah, T., Chi, X., Niu, J., Hamid, S. (2026). Assessment of self-reported prevalence, vaccination status, knowledge and behavioral determinants of hepatitis b and d in Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in microbiology, 17.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_med/762