Profiling hepatitis b clients in a tertiary hospital / [author]: Erice, Joshua Ferdie G., Bengco, Francis Jacob B., Dayandante, Eunisse Jean P., Guevarra, Frances Camille I., Zagala, Ruzette Kyle

Includes Appendix

ABSTRACT:
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B is a major public health problem in the Philippines. An estimated of 7.3 million adult Filipinos (16.7% of the adult population) are chronically infected making our country hyper endemic for Hepatitis B. The study about Hepatitis B in the Philippines is very limited and lacks in information so it is in this context that the researchers were motivated to conduct this study. Our objective was to determine the occurrence of Hepatitis B as to age, sex, occupation and location among patients admitted and discharged in a tertiary hospital from the year 2014 to 2016. The researchers utilized the descriptive method of research using a cross-sectional survey design. The study
analyzed by using a mean and standard deviation to quantitative data and numbers percentage were used for qualitative data. As to age, mean and standard deviation were used. Highest mean scores and lowest mean scores were identified and
overall mean were also calculated. As to location, sex, and occupation, numbers and percentage will be used. Twenty-nine (29) patients with Hepatitis B were included in this study. In year 2014, majority of the patients belong to the old age group with a total of six (6) out of thirteen (13). Many of them resides in Quezon City with a total of seven (7) patients. With regards to sex, male patients were more common with a total of eight (8). Unemployed and retired patients tied with a total of thirteen (13). Chief complaint of abdominal pain got the highest frequency with a total of five (5). Majority of them experienced a sign and symptom of weight loss with a total of four (4) and with regards to the final diagnosis, Chronic Hepatitis B got the
highest frequency with six (6). In 2015, majority of patients with age ranges from 41-60 and old age that ranges from 61-above tied with a total of 2 (two) each out of five (5) patients. Patients from Quezon City got the highest frequency with a
total of four (4). Male patients were more common with a total of two (2) out of five (5). As to occupation, retired patients got the highest frequency of two (2). Chief complain of abdominal pain got the highest frequency with a total of three
(3). With regards to signs and symptoms, Abdominal pain also got the highest frequency with a total of four (4) and with regards to the final diagnosis, Chronic Hepatitis B got the highest frequency with three (3). For the year 2016, Patients
with age ranges from 61-above got the highest frequency with 6 (six) out of eleven (11). As to location, ten (10) patients with Hepatitis B were from Quezon City. Five (5) out of eleven (11) patients were male. Retired patients were more
common with a total of six (6). As to the chief complain of the patients, abdominal pain got the highest frequency with a total of four (4). With regards to signs and symptoms, loss of appetite and abdominal pain tied with a total of four (4) and with regards to the final diagnosis, Chronic Hepatitis B got the highest frequency with five (5). Based on the data gathered, for the year 2014, Hepatitis B was more common on elderly patients due to degeneration or alteration of their immune system so they were susceptible in different diseases which were common in unemployed and retired patients considering their age that was why they chose one of the most accessible and more reliable tertiary hospital in Quezon City and most of the patients were residing around in the said location. Males were more susceptible to chronic infection than were females because there may be an influence of estrogen in the protection and defense of hepatic cells against the development of chronic liver disease and also males were more aggressive in terms of their lifestyle which put them in risk. Patients who were diagnosed with hepatitis B usually had an enlarged, tender and inflamed liver that causes their complaints of pain specifically in right upper quadrant. Patients also manifest weight loss because they had distaste for food. In the year 2015, there was a decrease in patients that were admitted and discharged from tertiary hospital in Quezon City. Middle age and old age were equal in the data gathered because these individuals were aging and that puts them in greater risk of having chronic diseases. Females had increased in the occurrence of Hepatitis B in the said year but it did not totally dominate the male gender. Other than that there was no difference with the results in the data gathered last year as to location, occupation, signs and symptoms, chief complaints and final diagnosis. In year 2016, there was an increase in patients that were admitted and discharged on the tertiary hospital
in Quezon city compared to 2015. In regards to age, it was similar in 2015 wherein middle age and old age were equal,
difference with the results in the data gathered last year as to location, occupation, signs and symptoms, chief complaints and final diagnosis. Other than that there was no This study served as a reference for the future researchers undergoing research with the same subject. The researchers recommend to those unvaccinated at risk individuals to have Hepatitis B vaccination and to do screening for detection of the presence of Hepatitis B virus. For future researchers, the researchers recommend to gather data from other hospitals around Quezon City to be able to identify the occurrence of Hepatitis B. By gathering data from other hospitals, results of the study may improve more accurately.

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