Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Bouaké, Côte D´Ivoire

Aim: Determine the prevalence of serological markers and identify risk factors associated with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection in patients screened at the Bouake teaching hospital. Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional study was conducted Study Site and Period: Bacteriology-Virology Laboratory/Bouake teaching hospital, Côte d´Ivoire, from April 2016 to January 2018. Methodology: In all 1076 study participants, venous blood sample was collected and screened for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), by electrochemical-luminescence following the manufacturer protocols. Additionally, questionnaires were used to collect information regarding sociodemographic variables and possible risk factors for hepatitis B infection. Data were processed and analyzed using EPI INFO 7 software. Results: A total of 1076 participants were included in this study with a median age of 30.0 years (range: 3 months; 82 years). Of which, 514 (48%) were female and 562 (52%) were male with female / male ratio 1.09. HBsAg was detected in 24,3% of participants and 82 1 (76,3%) were exposed to the risk of HBV infection (anti-HBc positive). High rate of HBV infection was detected in male (27.93%) (p=0.003). The age group of 15–45 years were more infected (27.18%) (p