Prevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus among Rohingya refugees: a hospital-based study at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a critical public health challenge globally, with particular concern for vulnerable populations like Rohingya refugee or forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMNs) residing in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV among Rohingya refugees admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Methods This cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Medicine, Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital from August 2018 to January 2019. A total of 384 hospital admitted Rohingya refugees were enrolled following informed written consent. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews and laboratory analyses of blood samples for HBsAg. Collected data were analysed by the statistical software SPSS version 22. Results The mean age of study patients was 44.96 ± 15.62 (SD) years, with a slight female predominance (51.6% female vs. 48.4% male). The frequency of positive HBsAg cases was 3.1%. Among the study population, the most common potential risk factors identified were body piercing (46.6%), tobacco consumption (40.4%), and injection drug use (40%). However, a statistical association of positive HBsAg cases was observed only with low monthly income (< 10,000 Bangladesh Tk) ( p <.05) and unsafe blood transfusions ( p <.05). Conclusion In this study, seropositivity for hepatitis B virus was observed in 3.1% that needs to be addressed and treated properly. Appropriate strategic measures are advised to prevent further transmission.