Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a most important health problem, it's a global pandemic. Previous surveys showed a high prevalence of hepatitis B infection in Yemen. Hepatitis B vaccination is the most efficient way to prevent hepatitis B virus infection and its outcomes (such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and liver failure). Aim: To measure the immune status of hepatitis B virus amongst first-year students at the faculties of Thamar University during the academic year 2021-2022. Methods: A total 196 of first-year students participated in this cross-sectional study and tested for anti-HBsAg and the antibody to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) and HBsAg by using ELISA during the period from January to May 2022 at Thamar University. An anti-HBs antibody titer ≥10 mIU/mL was regarded as being protective against HBV infection. Results: In this study, 22.4% of the students had protective levels against hepatitis B, while 77.6% had a non-protective level. HBV markers showed that 19.90%, 2.55%, and 75.51% of the students had been vaccinated and immunized due to a previous infection and exposed to HBV infection respectively and only 2.04% of them were non-obvious cases. The prevalence of anti-HBc was 4.6%. Risk factors that showed statistical significance were found between positive anti-HBc and family history of HBV (p=0.01). Conclusion: The low prevalence of hepatitis B protection levels in Thamar University medical students needs further research and necessitates implementation of a screening and vaccination program for all non-immunized healthcare students. Peer Review History: Received: 24 December 2022; Revised: 13 February 2023; Accepted: 8 March 2023, Available online: 15 March 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Iman Muhammad Higazy, National Research Center, Egypt, imane.higazy@hotmail.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Rola Jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, rola@aauj.edu Dr. Wadhah Hassan Ali Edrees, Hajja University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com Similar Articles: PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS, AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS, AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC JAUNDICE IN SANA’A CITY, YEMEN: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY PREVALENCE OF DIFFERENT HEPATITIS B VIRUS GENOTYPES AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED AMONG SELECTED YEMENI PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.