Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Keywords
HBV; Iraq; Risk factors
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a significant public health challenge worldwide, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, immunoglobulins and antiviral medications, HBV prevalence remains high in developing regions. This study investigates the potential risk factors associated with HBV infection in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to aid in developing targeted prevention strategies.
Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4091 participants from Duhok and Zakho, in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Data on demographics and potential risk factors were collected via a structured questionnaire. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was screened using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine infection status. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors.
Results: The mean age of enrolled participants was 29.33 years ± 10.74. Among them, 2851/4091 (69.69%) were females, 3385/4091 (82.74%) were residents of city and 3682/4091 (88.68%) were married. The prevalence of HBV infection among them was 3.67% (150/4091) and the following factors were significantly associated with HBV infection: female gender (p = 0.001), rural residency (p = 0.001), being married (p = 0.0014). Though a history of general operation and tattooing was found to be associated with HBV infection, this association was lost in multivariate analysis (p > 0.05) possibly due to confounding effect. A history of receiving blood or dental procedure was not significantly associated with HBV infection (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV infection in Duhok and Zakho remains high and several predictive factors were identified which can be used to target infection control measures. Future research should focus on a population-based study to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection to better inform public health policies.
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