HBsAg Prevalence and Determinant Risk Factors among Voluntary Counseling and Testing Clients Visiting Gondar Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

lobally, an astounding number of people are infected with HBV, HCV and HIV. Due to shared routes of transmission, HBV and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection is common and is an emerging concern in the clinical management of patients because of increased mortality, accelerated hepatic disease progression, and the frequent hepatotoxicity caused by hepatitis B virus. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of HBsAg among individuals who were presented for voluntary counseling and testing for HIV. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Gondar Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Blood samples and data on sociodemographic and HBV risk factors were collected from 393- VCT clients. The study subjects were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Data were cleaned, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were done and p value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A total of 393 VCT clients were enrolled and the prevalence of HBsAg was 19(4.8%). The prevalence of HBsAg among farmers, clients with history of jaundice and HIV sero-positive clients was, 16.1, 50 and 31.2%, respectively. In multivariate analyses history of dental extraction (AOR=19.4, 95% CI=5.2 – 72.2, P=0.00), multi-sexual partner (AOR=16.4, 95% CI=2–130, P=0.008) and HIV sero status (AOR= 12.9, 95% CI=2.5– 66, P= 0.002) had statistically significant association with HBV infection than those with other risk factors. There was significant difference of HBsAg prevalence between HIV-positive and HIVnegative subjects. The prevalence of HBsAg among VCT clients, whether their sero status is HIV positive or negative, is a public health concern to recommend screening at all levels and consider a mechanism for intervention. Keywords: Hepatitis B surface Antigen, Clients, VCT, HIV *Author for Correspondence E-mail: bmeskel@gmail