Hepatitis B Positivity among children screened at a tertiary care hospital and assessment of risk factors.

Objective: To determine the frequency of hepatitis b surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and associated risk factors among children screened before surgical procedures. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, Pakistan. Period: 1st February 2024 to 30th July 2024. Methods: A total of 188 children of either gender, aged between 3 months to 15 years, and admitted for any surgical procedure were screened. Demographic information like gender, age, and weight were noted. Information regarding risk factors of HBV infection included evaluation of vaccination status, history of hospital admission, history of injection, blood transfusion, surgical procedure, body piercing, and family history of HBV. HBV infection was labeled on the basis of the presence of surface antigen tested using ELISA. Results: In 188 children, 122 (64.9%) were male, and the mean age was 7.23±7.00 years. HBsAg was positive in 57 (30.3%) children. HBsAg seropositivity was significantly associated with female gender (p=0.001), higher mean age (p=0.001), and higher mean weight (p<0.001). Absence of HBV vaccination (p<0.001), history of hospitalization (45.6% vs. 30.5%; p=0.046), injections (19.3% vs. 8.4%; p=0.033), blood transfusions (31.6% vs. 9.9%; p<0.001), family history of HBV (p=0.015), maternal HBV positivity (p<0.001), and body piercing (33.3% vs. 13.0%; p=0.001) were significantly associated with HBsAg positivity. Conclusion: The frequency of HBsAg positivity among children undergoing surgical procedures was high. Key risk factors associated with HBV seropositivity included absence of vaccination, maternal HBV positivity, family history of HBV, blood transfusions, hospital admissions, and body piercing.