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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Hepatitis B virus among Saudi National Guard Personnel: Seroprevalence and risk of exposure
Journal of Infection and Public Health, Volume 6, No. 4, Year 2013
Notification
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Description
Background: Data on HBV prevalence among active military personnel in Saudi Arabia (SA) are lacking. In addition, the work-related risk of exposure is unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HBV and the risk of HBV exposure among SA National Guard (SANG) soldiers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed and included 400 male SANG soldiers working in Jeddah during January 2009. All soldiers completed a questionnaire to assess their risk of exposure and gave a blood sample to test for hepatitis serology markers. Results: A total of 16 (4.0%) soldiers were positive for HbsAg, 53 (13.2%) were positive for anti-HBc, and 230 (57.5%) were positive for anti-HBs. None of the soldiers had acute HBV infection, but 15 (3.8%) were chronic HBV carriers. A total of 152 (38.0%) soldiers were susceptible to HBV infection, and 230 (57.5%) were immune to HBV infection, primarily (84.3%) due to HBV vaccination. Compared with those who were negative for anti-HBc (never exposed), soldiers who were positive for anti-HBc were more likely to be older, have a lower education level, have a higher income, have a longer service duration, have a household member with HBV disease, have undergone surgery, or have undergone endoscopy. In the multivariate logistic regression model, older age, presence of a household member with HBV disease and previous endoscopy were independent predictors of HBV exposure. Conclusion: We report a 4% prevalence of HBsAg in the Saudi military population. This HBV prevalence was higher than those in the general Saudi population and military populations from Western countries. Both work-related and community-related risk factors for exposure are suggested. © 2013 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.
Authors & Co-Authors
Al-Thaqafy, Majid S.
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
King Abdulaziz Medical City - Jeddah
Balkhy, Hanan H.
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
King Abdulaziz Medical City - Riyadh
Al Memish, Ziad Ahmed
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
Makhdom, Yahya M.
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim, Adel Mohammad
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
al-Amri, Abdulfattah Fattah W.
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
King Abdulaziz Medical City - Jeddah
Al-Thaqafi, Abdulhakeem O.
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
King Abdulaziz Medical City - Jeddah
Statistics
Citations: 16
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jiph.2012.12.006
ISSN:
18760341
e-ISSN:
1876035X
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Male