Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; a population-based study

IF 1.7 Q4 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

IJID regions Pub Date : 2025-07-11 DOI:10.1016/j.ijregi.2025.100703

Nawfal R. Hussein , Ibrahim A. Naqid , Halder J. Abozait , Nashwan MR Ibrahim , Shakir A. Jamal , Brisik H. Rashad , Rijwan Azad Waisi , Dalia Ayhan Naji , Nadia Sulaiman Salih , Iman Salah Hassan , Parween Fadhil Ahmed , Nidar Loqman Khwasty , Marwa Faris Haji , Alina Abo Issa , Marwa Talib Abdulrazaq , Merdeen Muhammed Rasheed Morad , Zana Sidiq Mohammed Saleem , Dildar H. Musa

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Abstract

Background and objectives

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing countries. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, chronic HBV infection continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of HBV infection in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 26 February 2025 in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, using a multistage random sampling method. Data were collected from 386 participants through structured face-to-face interviews and serological testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core immunoglobulin G antibody (HBcAb) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The overall HBV positivity rate (HBcAb-positive) was 8%, with 7% indicating past infection (HBcAb-positive, HBsAg-negative) and 1% indicating chronic infection (HBcAb-positive and HBsAg-positive). In the multivariate analysis, HBV positivity was significantly associated with older age (P = 0.001) and male gender (P = 0.026). The highest prevalence (32.1%) was observed among participants aged ≥ 60 years.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate a moderate prevalence of past HBV infection and a relatively low rate of chronic carriers in Zakho city. Older age and male gender were significant predictors of HBV positivity. These results underscore the importance of continued public health efforts in HBV screening, early detection, and vaccination, particularly targeting older and at-risk populations.

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伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区扎胡市乙型肝炎病毒感染流行情况及危险因素分析一项基于人群的研究

背景和目的乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染仍然是一个重大的全球卫生挑战，特别是在发展中国家。尽管有有效的疫苗，慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染继续造成大量发病率和死亡率。本研究旨在确定伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区Zakho市HBV感染的流行情况和相关危险因素。方法采用多阶段随机抽样方法，于2025年2月26日在伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区扎霍市进行人口横断面调查。通过结构化的面对面访谈收集386名参与者的数据，并使用酶联免疫吸附法对乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg）和抗乙型肝炎核心免疫球蛋白G抗体（HBcAb）进行血清学检测。结果总体HBV阳性率（hbcab阳性）为8%，其中7%为既往感染（hbcab阳性、hbsag阴性），1%为慢性感染（hbcab阳性、hbsag阳性）。在多变量分析中，HBV阳性与年龄（P = 0.001）和男性（P = 0.026）显著相关。在年龄≥60岁的参与者中患病率最高（32.1%）。结论扎胡市乙型肝炎病毒既往感染率中等，慢性携带者比例相对较低。年龄和男性是HBV阳性的显著预测因子。这些结果强调了在HBV筛查、早期发现和疫苗接种方面继续开展公共卫生工作的重要性，特别是针对老年人和高危人群。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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