Sero-Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Hepatitis-B Virus Infection Among Attendants Of Out Patient Clinic In Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Untreated chronic viral hepatitis can progress to life-threatening complications. Ethiopia is considered as hyper endemic region with HBV infection according to WHO , nevertheless, the clinical and public health burdens due to viral hepatitis in general are still given no emphasis in the country’s health system including vaccinations and treatment for adults. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence and assess the associated risk factors of hepatitis virus infection among clients attending outpatient clinic of Hamdi medical and surgical specialty center, Harar town, Ethiopia. Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine the seroprevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus infection among adult attendants of Hamdi medical and surgical specialty center, Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia, 2019. Method and materials: Institution based cross sectional study design was used. Structured closed ended questionnaire was used to collect data using interviewer administered technique.Univariate and multivariate logistuc regression used to assess associated factors with seropositivity for HBV infection. The study was conducted between December 2019 and January 2020. Results: A total of 320 adult patients attending at Hamdi medical and surgical specialty center outpatient department were enrolled in the study. The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection detected was 10.6%. Sixty two (19.4%) of the participants gave history of sexually transmitted infection. There was a statistically significant association between, history of any contact with jaundiced patient, tattooing, history of sexually transmitted infection with Seropositivity for HBV infection. Those participants having previous history of contact with jaundice patient were about five times more seropositive for HBV infection when compared with those with out any contact history (AOR: 5.59, 95% CI:(1.59, 19.6), p= 0.007). Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HBV infection is high. History of any contact with jaundiced patient, tattooing and sexually transmitted infection were associated with seropositivity for HBV infection.