Prevalence and related factors of hepatitis B virus infection among Southern Khmer people in Tra Vinh province in 2021

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus infection poses a significant risk to human health. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and its associated factors among the Khmer population in Tra Vinh, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 2,372 individuals aged 18 to 60 years from 30 selected communes in Tra Vinh province. Eligible participants underwent blood sampling for HBsAg testing using a rapid diagnostic test and were interviewed directly using a questionnaire. The study revealed a current prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection of 9.8% among the participants. Importantly, there was a statistically significant association between hepatitis B virus infection and factors such as gender, age, adherence to infection prevention practices in daily life, adherence to infection prevention practices during beauty - related activities, and utilization of healthcare services for health maintenance. Further studies focusing on risk behaviors are warranted to accurately evaluate the influence of gender and age on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection within the community.