THE MAGNITUDE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATITIS B VIRAL INFECTIONS AMONG INDIVIDUALS SCREENED AT MNAZI-MMOJA HOSPITAL, ZANZIBAR

Suleiman Masoud Suleiman; Ussi Hamza Ussi; Hafidh Sheha Hassan; Mungo Kisinza Ngalameno; Said Salim Said

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1527

Suleiman Masoud Suleiman Chief Government Chemist Laboratory Agency, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Ussi Hamza Ussi School of Health and Medical Sciences, The State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Hafidh Sheha Hassan Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital Zanzibar, Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Mungo Kisinza Ngalameno Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.
Said Salim Said Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1527

Keywords:

Epidemiology, Hepatitis B, prevalence, risk factors, vaccine, viral infections, Zanzibar

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. HBV is a small, double-stranded circular DNA virus that may cause chronic severe liver diseases. The mode of transmission of HBV includes exposure to body fluids of an infected person by perinatal transmission, sexual intercourse, and needle sticks. The diagnosis of HBV infection is based on clinical, biochemical, histological, and serological studies. A vaccine is also available for the prevention of HBV.

Methodology: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among individuals screened at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar between 2021 and 2023.A Retrospective analysis of secondary data from hospital records. Demographic data such as age, sex, residence, and occupation, along with behavioural, healthcare-related, and awareness-related factors, were analyzed using IBM SPSS 27.

Result: A total of 24,431 individuals were screened for HBV at Mnazi-Mmoja Hospital with an overall prevalence of 7.6% for the three consecutive years. The highest prevalence was found in 2022, which was 8.3%, followed by 7.6% and 6.9% in 2021 and 2023, respectively. This study reveals a moderate prevalence rate of HBV infection within the population, and it further reveals that lack of awareness, socioeconomic, behavioral and health-related factors are the highest drivers for HBV infection transmission in the study population. This study sheds light and alarm to the government and other authorities so that appropriate intervention can be taken based on the current situation.