What are the risk factors associated with Hepatitis B Virus infection in Somalia?

Background The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through contaminated blood or bodily fluids. Globally, over 81 million blood units are donated annually, a crucial therapeutic procedure without alternatives. However, blood-borne infections, including HBV, pose a significant hurdle to safe transfusions, especially in HBV-endemic regions like Somalia with limited screening. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and identify risk factors associated with it among blood donors in Mogadishu, Somalia. Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2023. Research tools included a 5-ml blood sample and a structured questionnaire. The presence or absence of HB markers was determined using a multi-HB rapid test and CDC’s HB marker interpretation guideline. Logistic regression was used in univariate and multivariate models to identify risk factors associated with HBV infection, with significance set at a p-value < 0.05 in the final model. Result A total of 494 blood donors were recruited for this study; 93.9% were male, with a mean age of 31.5 (SD = 8.11). The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among blood donors was 9.7%, with a 95% CI of 7.1–12.3. In multivariable logistic regression, those with a monthly income of less than 200 USD (AOR = 5.20, 95% CI = 1.61–16.79), those with an income between 200 and 400 (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.38–9.34), Jobless blood donors (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.17–12.20), those in business occupations (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.24–9.08), those with a history of STDs (AOR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.03–11.50), those without a history of HB vaccine (AOR = 13.81, 95% CI = 2.46–77.41), those with a history of tooth extraction (AOR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.66–17.88), and those who shared sharp equipment (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.07–7.82) were more likely to become infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) compared to their counterparts. Conclusion This study highlights a high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Implementation efforts against HBV infection should specifically focus on low-income individuals, the jobless, and donors with a history of STD to mitigate the burden of HBV infection and promote safer blood donation. In addition, discouraging the sharing of sharp equipment, improving infection control practices during tooth extraction procedures, and enhancing HB vaccination uptake, particularly among individuals lacking a history of HB vaccine, is highly recommended.