Risk Factors Associated with Hepatitis B & C among Rohingya People Living in Refugee Camps

Abstract

Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh where they are living in congested camps with limited resources. This living condition increases the risk of transmission of hepatitis B & C. The objectives of this study was to find the risk factors associated with hepatitis B & C and the frequency of the risk factors the Rohingya are exposed to. Subsequent to this, the study aims to raise awareness to the participants about transmission, treatment and prevention regarding hepatitis B & C. This was a cross-sectional study and the sampling method was consecutive random sampling. This study was done at the Kutupalong refugee camp with 246 participants. Majority of the participants were females and the mean age was 34.63 ± 15.41. The risk factor with highest frequency was the use of vaccine with 54%. The highest behavioral risk factor was not using protection during intercourse. In a logistic regression it was found that participants without knowledge on jaundice are 2.996 times of having jaundice. It was also found that education has association with jaundice, but uneducated participants are at a higher of having jaundice than the educated participants with a p value below 0.05. The study could be used to raise awareness among the participants about transmission, treatment and prevention regarding hepatitis B & C with the help of the local and international NGOs.