Viral
hepatitis is a serious global public health problem affecting billions of people globally, and both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
infections are rapidly spreading in the developing countries including Bangladesh due to the lack of health education, poverty, illiteracy and lack of
hepatitis B vaccination. Also there is lack of information on their prevalence among the general population. So, a population-based serological survey was conducted in Dhaka to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HBV and HCV
infections.
METHODS: From June 2005-November 2006, 1997 participants were screened for
HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HCV, 738 (37%) were males with mean (SD) age of 24 (14) years. HBV-seropositivity was documented in 582 (29%) participants: 14 (0.7%) were positive for
HBsAg, 452 (22.6%) for anti-HBc and 116 (5.8%) for both
HBsAg and anti-HBc. Four (0.2%) participants were positive for anti-HCV, and another five (0.3%) for both anti-HBc and anti-HCV. Ninety-six/246 (39%) family members residing at same households with
HBsAg positive participants were also HBV-seropositive [74 (30.1%) for anti-HBc and 22 (8.9%) for both
HBsAg and anti-HBc], which was significantly higher among family members (39%) than that of study participants (29%) (OR 1.56; p < 0.001). In bivariate analysis, HBV-seropositivity was significantly associated with married status (OR 2.27; p < 0.001), history of
jaundice (OR 1.35; p = 0.009), surgical operations (OR 1.26; p = 0.04),
needle-stick injuries (OR 2.09; p = 0.002), visiting unregistered health-care providers (OR 1.40; p = 0.008), receiving treatment for
sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (OR 1.79; p = 0.001), animal
bites (OR 1.73; p < 0.001); ear-nose-
body piercing in females (OR 4.97; p < 0.001); circumcision (OR 3.21; p < 0.001), and visiting community barber for shaving in males (OR 3.77; p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, married status (OR 1.32; p = 0.04), surgical operations (OR 1.39; p = 0.02), animal
bites (OR 1.43; p = 0.02), visiting unregistered health-care providers (OR 1.40; p = 0.01); and ear-nose-
body piercing in females (OR 4.97; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with HBV-seropositivity.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate intermediate level of endemicity of HBV
infection in Dhaka community, with much higher prevalence among family members of
HBsAg positive individuals but low prevalence of HCV
infections, clearly indicating need for universal
hepatitis B vaccination. The use of disposable needles for ear-nose-
body piercing need to be promoted through public awareness programmes as a preventive strategy.