Original Article

Retrospective Evaluation of Hepatitis B Prevalence and Viral Load Pattern among Patients in Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. The infection is characterized by acute and chronic illness, that often lead to liver cirrhosis, and death. In this study, we determined the proportion of patients with hepatitis B infection in Mogadishu and evaluated their hepatitis B viral DNA.
Methods: A retrospective hospital-based descriptive study was conducted between July 2022 and October 2023 to collect data from all patients sent to the Dr. Sumait Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia for hepatitis B DNA detection and viral load determination.
Results: Among the 406 patients studied in a clinical setting, 54.4% tested positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The cohort predominantly consisted of males (62.8%) and individuals aged 30-39 years (32.8%). Age and sex were significantly associated with HBV positivity, with higher odds observed in older age groups with a 2.62 times higher risk of infection (95%CI=1.447-4.750) for the individuals aged between 30-39 years old, 3.19 times greater (95%CI=1.671-6.114) for those age group between 40-49 years old, and 3.13 times greater (95%CI=1.670-5.870) for those age group above 50 years. It should be noted that these findings are based on a clinical cohort and therefore may not represent the prevalence of HBV in the general population.
Conclusion: This study highlights a high proportion of HBV infection among clinical patients with known or suspected HBV infection in Mogadishu, with significant associations between age, sex, and infection risk. Further population-based studies are needed to assess the true burden of HBV in the general population in Somalia.

 

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IssueVol 55 No 1 (2026) QRcode
SectionOriginal Article(s)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v55i1.20980
Keywords
Hepatitis B virus Liver cirrhosis Hepatocellular carcinoma Real-Time PCR Somalia
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How to Cite
1.
Garba B, Mohamud S, Samatar H, Dirie N, Mohamud A, Adam M, Hassan J, Hassan Orey F, Asowe H, Mohamoud J, Ahmed M. Retrospective Evaluation of Hepatitis B Prevalence and Viral Load Pattern among Patients in Mogadishu, Somalia. Iran J Public Health. 2026;55(1):143-150.