Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients Attending at Addis Alem Primary Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

Mekuanint Geta,¹ Endalew Yizengaw,² Zegeye Getaneh,³ Tamyalew Getahun<sup>4

1</sup>Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; ²Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; ³Department of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; ⁴Laboratory Department, Addis Alem Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Correspondence: Mekuanint Geta
Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
Email yageta23@gmail.com

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes severe liver disease, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and life-threatening liver disease. Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the most dominant public health problems these days. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV infection among patients attending Addis Alem Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January to February 2019 on HBV registered from January 2016 to December 2018 for three years period. The presence of HBsAg in serum was detected using the One Step Cassette Style HBsAg test kit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of participants with HBV infection. Statistical association of the determinants with HBV infection was determined by the X² test.
Results: In this study, a total of 2010 participants of HBsAg rapid test records in the laboratory logbook were included. The median age of women was 25 years. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg was 78 (3.9%). There was a general increment of HBV infection from 2016 to 2018, X² =7.52; P=0.023. Age (X² =8.19; P= 0.042) and sex (X² =37.77; P < 0.001) were associated with HBsAg positivity.
Conclusion and Recommendations: An intermediate seroprevalence of HBV infection was detected among participants in our study area. This figure raises significant public health concerns. Therefore, implementing strategies for routine screening of women for HBV and hospital attendants would be critical.

Keywords: HBV, HBsAg, Addis Alem, Bahir Dar