SEROPREVALENCE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS B IN THE PROVINCE OF TIZNIT, SOUTHERN REGION OF MOROCCO

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that an estimated 257 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Objective: Morocco is so far considered, according to the WHO, to have an intermediate prevalence of viral hepatitis B. Currently, few studies report on the epidemiology of HBV in Morocco. The objective of this study is the assessment of the prevalence of HBV infection and risk factors in the southern region of Morocco precisely the province of Tiznit.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted over a period of 5 years, from January 2014 to December 2018. Including 10,823 blood donors at the Tiznit Blood Bank. The search for the HBs antigen (HBs Ag) was carried out by ELISA technique "Murex HBs Ag version 3", by the BEP 2000 Advance plc.

Results: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B in the study population is 0.20%, with a male predominance and a sex ratio of 4.5. The study of risk factors for hepatitis B in infected people found that informal dental care (31%), risky sex (23%) are the main risk factors for HBV transmission.

Conclusion: According to this study, the seroprevalence of HBV in the province of Tiznit places Morocco as a country of low prevalence of viral hepatitis B. This figure is consistent with data reported to other regions of the country including Agadir Marrakech and Rabat. WHO should consider Morocco as a country of low endemicity to HBV.