Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem. In Brazil, the Amazon Region stands out for high HBV prevalence, especially in riverside populations. In these communities, the lack of epidemiological studies and limited access to healthcare services hinder understanding of transmission dynamics and effective disease control. This study aims to determine the prevalence of serological markers for HBV and to characterize the epidemiological profile, identifying main risk factors associated with HBV acquisition in riverside communities. Cross-sectional analytical descriptive study conducted between 2018 and 2019 in two riverside communities. Participants completed a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and epidemiological data. Blood samples from individuals of both sexes were collected to detect HBV serological markers: HBsAg, total anti-HBc, and anti-HBs. Analyses were performed by ELISA in a reference laboratory. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. A total of 440 participants were included (200 from community 1 and 240 from community 2). Most were female (68.2%), with predominance of ages 18 to 37 years (54.5%). Positivity for at least one serological marker was 37.3% (164/440). HBsAg prevalence was 5.5% (9/164), total anti-HBc positivity was 53% (87/164), and anti-HBs positivity was 44.5% (73/164). The main risk factors were early sexual debut in 61.96% (57/92), multiple sexual partners in 48.95% (45/92), and sharing sharps in 57.61% (53/92). The riverside communities studied showed high prevalence of hepatitis B serological markers, confirming HBV endemicity and persistent viral transmission. Identified risk factors reinforce the need to expand vaccination coverage, implement continuous health education strategies, and develop public policies tailored to these vulnerable populations.
Palheta et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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