ASSESSMENT OF HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C INFECTIONS AMONG PREMARITAL SCREENING APPLICANTS IN MOSUL CITY

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections represent important public health concerns because of their potential to cause chronic liver disease and long-term complications. Premarital screening provides an opportunity to identify individuals with positive screening results and facilitate appropriate counselling and clinical assessment. Objectives: To assess HBV and HCV screening positivity among premarital screening applicants in Mosul City, Iraq, and describe its distribution according to year and sex. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was planned at Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital, Ibn Al-Atheer Teaching Hospital, and Mosul General Hospital for the period from January 2, 2021, to December 31, 2024. The available aggregate screening records included 56180 applicants from 2021–2024. HBV screening was based on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), while HCV screening was based on anti-HCV antibodies. Results: Among 56180 applicants, 146 were HBsAg-positive, yielding an HBV screening positivity rate of 0.26%, while 26 were anti-HCV-positive, corresponding to 0.046%. HBV positivity was 0.471% in 2021, 0.240% in 2022, 0.305% in 2023, and 0.164% in 2024. HCV positivity was 0.114%, 0.060%, 0.052%, and 0.017%, respectively. Males accounted for 94 (64.38%) of HBV-positive cases and 17 (65.38%) of anti-HCV-positive cases. Conclusions: The available records demonstrated low screening positivity for HBV and HCV among premarital screening applicants in Mosul, with a higher proportion of male cases. Continued premarital screening, appropriate counselling, clinical referral, and HBV vaccination for susceptible individuals are recommended. HCV RNA testing is required to confirm active HCV infection.