IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG FRESHMEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN YEMEN

Abdul Salam Mohamed Al Makdad; Abdulrahman Y. Al-Haifi; Najlaa Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutaa; Hassan Abdulwahab Al-Shamahy

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v8i1.900

Abdul Salam Mohamed Al Makdad Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
Abdulrahman Y. Al-Haifi Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
Najlaa Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutaa Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dhamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.
Hassan Abdulwahab Al-Shamahy Medical Microbiology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Republic of Yemen. Medical Microbiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Genius University for Sciences and Technology, Dhamar city.

10.22270/ujpr.v8i1.900

Keywords:

Antibodies, Hepatitis B virus, Immunization in Yemen, Low immunity

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.