Hepatitis B: Epidemiology and prevalence in Iran, during 2002-2014

Background and Purpose: Hepatitis B is a major health problem around the globe the prevalence of which varies depending on the region and study. In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiology and prevalence rates of hepatitis B in Fasa, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed using medical records of all the hepatitis B patients referring to Fasa Health Center during 2002-2014. The demographic variables and other required data were obtained and recorded, and then descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and percentage) were reported using SPSS, version 18. Results: In this study, from the 208 patients, 83.2% were male, and 83.2% were aged between 21 and 30 years. The majority of the hepatitis B patients (97.1%) did not have history of vaccination against the disease. The number of addicts using intravenous injection and suffering from hepatitis B was higher (31.7%) than others. The prevalence rate of this disease was 0.01% in 2014. Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence of hepatitis B in 2014 in Fasa indicate the necessity of prevention and vaccination for those at high risk of the disease. Health education programs in schools, universities, organizations, and even mosques can play a major role in preventing the prevalence of the disease.