PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN DISTRICT BAJAUR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The burden of HBV in Pakistan is among the highest in the world, and the recently merged tribal districts have little data. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of HBV in blood donors at the District Headquarters Hospital in the Pakistani province of Bajaur, Pakistan, and to determine its prevalence by age, sex, and tehsil (sub-district). The data of blood donors visiting the DHQ Hospital Bajaur blood bank during January and December 2024 was utilized to conduct a retrospective cross-sectional study. There were 260 donors (190 male 70 female). The screening of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the presence of HBV infection, which was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence was computed in general and according to demographic factors. Comparisons were done using chi-square and fisher exact tests. The overall prevalence of HBV was 6.92% (18/260; 95% CI: 4.2–10.7%). Males had significantly higher prevalence (8.43%, 16/190) than females (5.71%, 4/70) (p = 0.04; odds ratio = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.02–2.27). The age group with the greatest infection rate was the 30 to 40 years group among the males (11.1%), and the 20 to 30 years group among the females (10.5%). There was a considerable amount of geographic variation ( 2 = 14.8, 6, p = 0.02): Barang tehsil was the highest (12.0%), then Chamarkand and Utmankhel (10.0% each), with the lowest being Khar (2.5%). There was no significant correlation between the donor type (voluntary or replacement) and HBV positivity (p = 0.34). The prevalence of HBV in blood donors in District Bajaur (6.92%) is significantly greater than provincial and national prevalence, which shows in-between-high and high endemicity. The high geographic heterogeneity and higher rates in males and younger adults justify an immediate intervention in the form of public health, which encompasses increased donor screening, increased vaccine coverage, infection control, and community awareness campaigns that are specific to high-risk tehsils.