Immunological Status of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Freshmen University Students in Yemen

Abstract

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

An update of Seroprevalence of HBV among healthcare workers in Yemen: a review of data published between 2001 and 2020

“…Low HBV prevalence in Saudi Arabia indicates the role of vaccination and educational programs to eliminate HBV infection among HCWs. Previous studies have shown that the needle stick injury (NSI) was the key risk factor of HBV infection among HCWs [22,20,28,24,21,29,25] In Yemen, the prevalence of HBV infection varied from town to town as Taiz and Sana , a and reduced from year to year, as indicated through many studies [22,25,24]. The HBV prevalence reduced from 9.9% [22] to 2.76% [25].…”