Abstract

Viral hepatitis was a major public health problem in need of an urgent response. An estimated 257 million people were
living with chronic HBV infection. This study sought to determine the Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with
Chronic Hepatitis B among Patients Attending Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole District, Western
Uganda. Data was coded and entered into Epi info version 7, then exported into SPSS version 22.0 for analysis.
Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were
computed to determine risk factors associated with HBsAg seropositivity. AOR with corresponding 95% CI were
computed to see the strength of the association and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 112
eligible adults comprising 48 (42.9%) males and 64 (57.1%) females participated in the study. The mean age of the
participants was 31.6 years [SD ±7.2]. Half of the study respondents, 56 (50.0%) were in the age range of 25–34 years.
The overall prevalence of HBV infection among adults in the community was 7.14%. Based on a bivariate logistic
regression analysis, being male, residing in an urban setting, having a primary education, being married, operating a
business or being self-employed, living in a family of five or more members, body piercing, history of hospitalization,
extraction of teeth at a dental facility, history of circumcision, drinking alcohol, unprotected sexual behaviour and
sharing of sharp personal items had a significant association with the seroprevalence of HBsAg in patients at FRRH.
However when the model was adjusted to cater for possible confounders in a multivariate logistic regression analysis,
being male [p=0.008], residing in an urban setting [p=<0.001], operating a business or being self-employed
[p=0.001], living in a family of five or more members [p=0.028], body piercing [p=<0.001], drinking alcohol
[p=0.006], unprotected sexual behaviour [p=0.001] and sharing of sharp personal items [p=0.028] remained
significantly associated with seroprevalence of HBsAg in patients at FRRH. The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus
amongst patients at FRRH IS 7.14%. Socio-demographic variables including gender, place of residence, occupation,
and staying in a family of 5 or more members in a household showed significant association with HBsAg seropositivity.
Body piercing, alcohol drinking habits, unprotected sexual behaviour and sharing of sharp personal items were risk
factors for HBsAg seropositivity among patients attending FRRH.
Keywords: Patients, Hepatitis, HBsAg seroprevalence, Drinking alcohol, Unprotected sexual behaviour