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Determinants of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection Among University Students in Central Bangladesh

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among university students in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 614 students from five universities in central Bangladesh. Data were collected on demographic information, immunization history, medical and blood transfusion history through the face-to-face interview. Blood samples were collected and screened for anti-HBsAg using ELISA, HBsAg Rapid Test-cassette, and immune chromatographic test. The overall seroprevalence of HBV infection was 5.0%, and vaccination coverage was 19.2% among the participants. Students having a history of surgery (OR 11.004, 95% CI 3.211–37.707), blood transfusion (OR 5.651, 95% CI 0.965–33.068), being married (OR 4.776, 95% CI 1.508–15.127), and not being vaccinated (OR 9.825, 95% CI 1.130–85.367) were at higher risk of being infected by HBV. This study showed the endemicity of HBV infection among the Bangladeshi population. Marriage, surgical or blood transfusion history, not being vaccinated were the determinants of HBV infection within the study population. Public health initiatives for preventing HBV infection at the university levels should be envisaged.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, School of Pharmacy and Public Health, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Rabiul Islam

  2. Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, Faculty of Public Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Nusrat Hosain Sheba & Sharmin Hossain

  3. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Torikul Islam

  4. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Mostafizur Rahman

  5. Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Public Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Anower Hussain

  6. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood Victoria, Australia

    Shariful Islam

  7. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University (DIU), Dhaka, Bangladesh

    ABM Alauddin Chowdhruy & Faisal Muhammad

  8. Department of Public Health and Informatics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Tajuddin Sikder

  9. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, No. 12-18, Jalan SS 6/12, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Moniruddin Chowdhury

  10. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany

    Rine Christopher Reuben

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  1. Md. Rabiul Islam
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  12. Faisal Muhammad
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Correspondence to Faisal Muhammad.

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Ethical Approval

The Bangladesh Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s ethical review committee approved the study (IACIB). Each participant signed a written informed consent form. They were informed about the study’s nature and goal and the fact that their information would be kept private. In addition, all volunteers received free laboratory tests, interviews, and results from notification. Each participant’s test results were sealed, encased, and personally delivered. As a thank you for taking part in the study, each participant received a modest gift.

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Islam, M.R., Sheba, N.H., Islam, M.T. et al. Determinants of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection Among University Students in Central Bangladesh. J Community Health 47, 136–142 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01025-9

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