Prevalence of hepatitis B virus among people in Somalia and among Somalian immigrants in diaspora: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The burden of the hepatitis B virus in Somalia is of epidemiological significance. This study aims to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among the population of Somalia and Somalian immigrants in the diaspora by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: A comprehensive search of literature detailing the frequency of HBV among individuals residing in Somalia and among Somalian immigrants was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) criteria. The meta-analysis was conducted using a single-arm random effects model, employing the DerSimonian and Laird technique. Result: Our search yielded 24 relevant publications encompassing 9976 cases of HBV in Somalia and among Somali immigrants in the diaspora. The prevalence of HBV among those residing only in Somalia was significantly higher (20.9% (CI: 15.2 – 28.1, I2 = 97.19%, p <0.001) compared to the overall prevalence among Somalian immigrants and individuals living in Somalia (17.5% (CI: 13.0 – 23.5, I2 = 97.11%, p <0.001). The prevalence of HBV among Somalian immigrants in the diaspora group was found to be the lowest, with an incidence of 6.9% (CI: 3.7 – 12.3, I2 = 92.81%, p <0.001). The coexistence of various medical conditions (Diabetes, hypertension, and Schistosomiasis) exhibited a strong correlation with the development of HBV in Somalia and among individuals who have immigrated from Somalia. Conclusion: The study provides evidence indicating that the overall prevalence of HBV among Somalians was rather high on a global scale (17.5%), with a greater prevalence observed among those residing in Somalia (20.9%).