AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY LOSS “DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF HEPATITIS B AND C IN PAKISTAN”

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C pose major public health challenges due to their long-term clinical complications and significant socioeconomic implications that cause physical and emotional weakness that create hurdles in individuals lives. Considering the health as one the key determinate of human capital and human development index (HDI), it is necessary to conduct and design a study that explore the consequence and significance of Hepatitis B and C in Pakistan.

Data source and methodology:

This study analyzes demographic patterns and the broader socioeconomic consequences experienced by 8,388 patients, including gender-based distribution, labor market outcomes, absenteeism, job rejection, and visa rejection. Data collected from Hepatitis B and C patients and their representatives at district head quarter hospitals (DHQ), private healthcare institution and doctors’ private clinic from 77 districts of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan by a well-organized and structured questioner covering 36 questions based on patient’s demographic and socioeconomic indicators. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for data analysis.

Results and conclusion:

The current study finds considerable consequences of hepatitis B and C on labor mobility, labor productivity, presentism and absenteeism at work place, household income, mortality and life style in Pakistan. The results show that males constitute higher proportion of cases (59.8%) compared to females (40.2%), indicating potential differences in exposure risks and health-seeking behavior. Beyond the clinical burden, affected individuals reported considerable employment-related challenges, including workplace absenteeism, reduced productivity, and rejection from job opportunities. Visa denial was also noted as a major social outcome, often linked to mandatory medical screening in domestic and international processes. These findings highlight not only the epidemiological prevalence of hepatitis B and C but also the economic and social barriers faced by patients. Strengthening early diagnosis, treatment access, workplace support policies, and awareness campaigns is crucial to reducing disease burden and improving the quality of life and economic prospects of affected individuals

Moreover hepatitis B and C has also originate significant adverse effect on labor mobility, employment, mortality and determined that 14.8 % visa denial, 6.8 % job rejection and 1.2 % of the respondents reported job termination  by hepatitis B and C. correspondingly the consequence of viral hepatitis B and C was originate adverse effect and instigated decline in household income in form of decrease in working days that results sell of assents to finance the treatment and meet their daily expenses. This empirical analysis also initiates negative impact of viral hepatitis B and C on foreign reserves and determined high at 0.18 % decrease in foreign reserves of Pakistan.