Background: Hepatitis is the liver inflammation caused by A, B, C, D and/or E viruses. Hepatitis is a major health issue in India and the worldwide. The prevalence is increasing among pregnant women in proportion to the increase worldwide. Hepatitis in pregnant women leads to increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This led to collection of data to formulate a better plan. Methods: An observational study was done was done at Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India from the month of January  to December 2014. Women who attended our outpatients department or delivered in our labour room and had Hepatitis were included in this study. Blood biochemistry and liver enzymes were done on all patients. Hepatitis markers were done as well. Results: The prevalence of hepatitis was 2.82% in our study population (irrespective of whether Hepatitis A, B, C or E). Hepatitis A was 28.8%, hepatitis B was 40.7%, hepatitis C was 18.6% and hepatitis E was 11.9% in our study population. Lower educational status women had higher incidence of hepatitis, illiterate group had 35.59% and high school educated had 42.37%. Low socioeconomic status (SES) had 52.4% and middle SES had 47.45% of hepatitis. There were 10.2% cases of abruption, 8.5% cases of DIC and 5.1% case of preeclampsia. Conclusions: This study highlights the overall prevalence of hepatitis in our catchment area. It also shows that the very basic facilities are still the missing like sanitation, education and income. We need to highlight and work on those areas. Blood and blood products needs to be screened to reduce hepatitis B and C. Pregnant mothers should be managed as high risk group to improve their outcome. Neonatal immunisation should be both active and passive even if government has to bear the cost.

Keywords: Hepatitis; Screening; Prevention; Screening.