Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Limited information exists about the epidemiology of HBV infection in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess sero-prevalence of HBV markers and associated factors in children living in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 471 children in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia from May to September, 2018. A total of 471 children were included in the study using a multistage sampling technique. Data on demographic and risk factors were gathered using structured questionnaires. Blood samples were collected and sera were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody against surface antigen (anti-HBs) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The sero-prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs markers among children were 4.4, 19.5 and 20.0%, respectively. Children at higher risk of having HBsAg marker were those who had a history of injectable medications (AOR 5.02, 95% CI: 1.14, 22.07), a family history of liver disease (AOR 6.37, 95% CI: 1.32, 30.74), a HBsAg seropositive mothers, (AOR 11.19, (95% CI: 3.15, 39.67), and had no vaccination history for HBV (AOR, 6.37, 95% CI: 1.32, 30.74). Children from families with low monthly income, who were home delivered, unvaccinated for HBV or with HBsAg seropositive mother had increased risk of having anti-HBc. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings showed an intermediate endemicity of HBV infection in the study setting. The observed rate of residual HBV infection with low rate of immunized children after HBV vaccination was high. Hence, introducing birth dose vaccine, safe injection practice and improving immunization coverage during pregnancy as part of the antenatal care package should be considered. Furthermore, governmental and non-governmental organizations should give attention on timely measures for the prevention of ongoing vertical transmission from mother to child as well as early horizontal transmission of HBV in Hawassa City, Ethiopia.