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Abstract
Background: Flagellation with blades has been a ritual performed exclusively by Shiite population. People share blades during this ritual and become prone to various blood borne infections including the viral infections like hepatitis B and C. Objective: To determine the frequency of hepatitis B and C virus in Shiite population of University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad and its relationship with the ritual of zanjeer zani (flagellation with blades). Study type, settings and duration: The comparative study was conducted in University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad from May to August 2017. Methodology: All Shiite population of The University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad was screened for HBV and HCV by using the ELISA method. Questionnaires were given to determine the trend of performing the ritual of zanjeer zani among the target population. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to establish the association between the study variables. Results: Out of 761 subjects, 401 were male and 360 were female. Mean age of the subjects was 24.5 (±7.975) years. Among them 34 (4.5%) had positive viral serology including 10 (1.3%) for HCV and 24 (3.2%) for HBV infection. Increasing age and mourning ritual of zanjir zani had p-value <0.05 when compared among groups with positive and negative viral serology upon application of chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The presence of Hepatitis B and C virus among the Shiite population, the ritual of zanjeer zani has emerged as an independent factor. It is concluded that special attention should be paid to the people who perform this ritual without taking the safety measures because sharing the equipment can be a cause of transmission of virus.

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Fahad Ali Kazmi, Usama Bin Zubair, Syed Azhar Ali. (2019) Hepatitis B & C: Frequency and Association with the Use of Mourning Blades among the Shiite Population of University of AJK Muzaffarabad and AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), , Volume-58, Issue-3.
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Pakistan Journal of Medical Research
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Volume-58
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