Hepatitis B virus in Saudi Arabia.

This study was conducted on 2702 samples collected from the male and female population in different provinces of Saudi Arabia. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was high (16.7%) and no significant difference was encountered between the rate in males and females. Different regions of Saudi Arabia showed a significantly variable prevalence of HBsAg. The eastern province had a prevalence of about 9% compared to the southwestern province where the prevalence was 25% in Jaizan. The antibodies anti-HBs and anti-HBc were encountered in 30-67% of the individuals in different provinces, suggesting that a significant number of Saudis were already immune to HBsAg before they reached adulthood. This paper presents the results obtained in different regions and shows that significant differences exist in the HBsAg carrier rate in the different regions of Saudi Arabia. The possible causes for the variation are discussed and strategies to reduce the prevalence of HBsAg carrier state are suggested.