_1778829949 20260515072549000 Editor editor.jddt@gmail.com Universal Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Universal Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Univ J Pharm Res 2456-8058 2831-5235 05 15 2026 Suleiman Masoud Suleiman Ussi Hamza Ussi Hafidh Sheha Hassan Mungo Kisinza Ngalameno Said Salim Said Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. HBV is a small, double-stranded circular DNA virus that may cause chronic severe liver diseases. The mode of transmission of HBV includes exposure to body fluids of an infected person by perinatal transmission, sexual intercourse, and needle sticks. The diagnosis of HBV infection is based on clinical, biochemical, histological, and serological studies. A vaccine is also available for the prevention of HBV. Methodology: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among individuals screened at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar between 2021 and 2023.A Retrospective analysis of secondary data from hospital records. Demographic data such as age, sex, residence, and occupation, along with behavioural, healthcare-related, and awareness-related factors, were analyzed using IBM SPSS 27. Result: A total of 24,431 individuals were screened for HBV at Mnazi-Mmoja Hospital with an overall prevalence of 7.6% for the three consecutive years. The highest prevalence was found in 2022, which was 8.3%, followed by 7.6% and 6.9% in 2021 and 2023, respectively. This study reveals a moderate prevalence rate of HBV infection within the population, and it further reveals that lack of awareness, socioeconomic, behavioral and health-related factors are the highest drivers for HBV infection transmission in the study population. This study sheds light and alarm to the government and other authorities so that appropriate intervention can be taken based on the current situation.                   Peer Review History: Received 22 February 2026;   Reviewed 8 March 2026; Accepted  11 April; Available online 15 May 2026 Academic Editor: Dr. Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia,  Indonesia, ahmad.najib@umi.ac.id Reviewers: Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, sansan4240732@163.com 05 15 2026 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 10.22270/ujpr.v11i2.1527 https://ujpronline.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1527 https://ujpronline.com/index.php/journal/article/download/1527/2117 https://ujpronline.com/index.php/journal/article/download/1527/2117 https://ujpronline.com/index.php/journal/article/download/1527/2118 https://ujpronline.com/index.php/journal/article/download/1527/2146