Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viral Infections and Their Associated Factors among Diabetic Patients Visiting Debre Tabor Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem that affects millions of people each year, causing disability and death. Hepatitis B and C viruses are the most common causes of viral hepatitis and are associated with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary site of infection for these viruses is the liver, the primary site of hormone and glucose metabolism closely linked to diabetes mellitus (DM), which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a result, assessing the coexistence of viral hepatitis and DM could be important in disease management, prevention, and control measures in DM patients. Objective. The aim of our study is to assess the prevalence and associated factors of HBV and HCV among diabetes patients attending Debre Tabor Referral Hospital. Methods. An institutional-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2021, to February 30, 2021. A systematic sampling technique was used for selecting study participants. Serum samples were screened with a rapid test kit for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections. A pretested structured questionnaire was constructed to collect the data, which were later analyzed using SPSS version 23. Inferential statistics were used to evaluate the associated risk factors for the outcome variable. A p value of