Epidemiological Patterns of HBV, HCV, and HIV Infections Among Health Certificate Applicants attending Al-Afia Hospital, Aljufra, Libya: An Eight-Year Retrospective Laboratory-Based Study

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are still important public health issues in the world, especially in the lower- and middle-income countries. In Libya, there are few studies that have addressed the prevalence of these three viruses in different populations during the process of medical examination. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the pattern of these viruses in populations attending for health certificates examination at Al-Afia Hospital in Houn, Libya. A retrospective cross-sectional study was used; data were collected over the period of time (January 2018 to December 2025). The information obtained in this study included the total number of people tested and the number of confirmed cases with infections due to HBV, HCV, and HIV. Prevalence rates were computed on an annual basis, and the results were further categorized based on gender. The exact binomial 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for all proportions. Trends across time were evaluated through the chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. The number of people screened during the study period was 10,703. The prevalence rate of hepatitis infections varied between 1.02% and 4.89%. On the other hand, the prevalence of HIV was relatively low, ranging between 0.10% and 1.90%. Hepatitis B virus dominated the population, representing the majority of hepatitis cases (71.4%–100% for men and 16.6%–100% for women). However, the distribution of HCV had more variation, especially in women, with a maximum percentage of 83.3% recorded in 2019 (95% CI: 53.5–100). There was a significant trend in hepatitis infections, but not significant for HIV cases over time (p > 0.05). No difference in gender distribution was detected except for 2019, when there was a significant difference (p = 0.01). Increased confidence intervals in women were due to smaller sample sizes. HIV infections were uncommon, and no gender preference was apparent. To conclude, the overall prevalence of HBV was highest among patients undergoing routine health screening in Houn, Libya, compared to HCV. On the other hand, the prevalence of HCV and HIV was lower and did not show any gender bias. This study suggests that continued monitoring and specific public health approaches are required in order to ensure proper control of hepatitis and prevent HIV.