The prevalence of HBV infection in the cohort of IDPs of war against terrorism in Malakand Division of Northern Pakistan

Blood samples from 950 IDPs suspected with HBV infection (including both males and females) were collected and processed with commercial ELISA kits for HBsAg, Anti HBs, HBeAg, Anti HBe antibodies. The samples positive by ELISA were confirmed for HBV DNA by real-time PCR analysis.The overall prevalence of HBV observed was 21.05% of which 78.5% were males and 21.5% were females. Most confirmed HBV patients belong to the Malakand and Dir (lower) district. High-risk of infection was found in the older subjects 29.13% (46-60 years), while a lower incidence (11.97%) was observed in children aged <15 years. Lack of awareness, socioecomic conditions, sexual activities and sharing of razor blades, syringes and tattooing needles were the most common risk factors of HBV infection observed during the cohort of patients.The present study, revealed for the first time a high degree of prevalence of HBV infection in rural areas of Northern Pakistan. The noticed prevalence is gender- and age-dependent that might be due to their high exposures to the common risk factors. To avoid the transmission of HBV infection proper awareness about the possible risk factors and extension of immunization to the rural areas are recommended.Hepatitis B is an important public health concern in both developing and developed countries affecting approximately 3.5 billion of the world's population and additionally ≥ 400 million are chronic carriers [1-4]. It has been estimated globally that each year ~1-2 million people die from HBV related complications such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2-8]. HBV is endemic in the Pakistani population with a rate of 3% HBV carriers in the country. Although the rate of exposure to HBV in Pakistan is not fully confirmed, Awan et al (2010) reported ~38% prevalence with a 4% carrier rate and 32% with anti-HBV surface antibodies by natural conversion [3].The highest concentrations of infectious HBV are in blood, serum and serum-derived body