Prevalence Of Hepatitis B And C Viruses Among Secondary School Students in Jiblah Town, Yemen

Background Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses remain a major public health problem in Yemen, although their prevalence among different population groups remains limited. However, information on these infections among secondary school students in Yemen is still scarce. Objectives This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections and their associated risk factors among secondary school students in Jiblah Town, Yemen. Methods and Materials A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 secondary school students in Jiblah town, Yemen. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibodies using a rapid assay. Positive results were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A structured interviewing questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data from the target sample. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the results. Results The overall prevalence of HBV was 1(1%), while the prevalence of HCV was 4 (4%). statistically significant association was found between HCV and the gender of the participants. Conclusions This study highlighted the need to expand hepatitis B immunization coverage in the study area. It also revealed a moderate risk of hepatitis C infection. Therefore, educational campaigns should be implemented to raise students' awareness of the prevalence of viral hepatitis and its risk determinants.