Hepatitis B virus among Saudi national guard personnel: seroprevalence and risk of exposure

ABSTRACT

Data on HBV prevalence among active military personnel in Saudi Arabia [SA] are lacking. In addition, the work-related risk of exposure is unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HBV and the risk of HBV exposure among SA National Guard [SANG] soldiers. A cross-sectional study was performed and included 400 male SANG soldiers working in Jeddah during January 2009. All soldiers completed a questionnaire to assess their risk of exposure and gave a blood sample to test for hepatitis serology markers. A total of 16 [4.0%] soldiers were positive for HbsAg, 53 [13.2%] were positive for anti-HBc, and 230 [57.5%] were positive for anti-HBs. None of the soldiers had acute HBV infection, but 15 [3.8%] were chronic HBV carriers. A total of 152 [38.0%] soldiers were susceptible to HBV infection, and 230 [57.5%] were immune to HBV infection, primarily [84.3%] due to HBV vaccination. Compared with those who were negative for anti-HBc [never exposed], soldiers who were positive for anti-HBc were more likely to be older, have a lower education level, have a higher income, have a longer service duration, have a household member with HBV disease, have undergone surgery, or have undergone endoscopy. In the multivariate logistic regression model, older age, presence of a household member with HBV disease and previous endoscopy were independent predictors of HBV exposure. We report a 4% prevalence of HBsAg in the Saudi military population. This HBV prevalence was higher than those in the general Saudi population and military populations from Western countries. Both work-related and community-related risk factors for exposure are suggested