Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Clinical Epidemiology in a Representative Sample of Zambian Adults

The Zambian Ministry of Health (MoH) considers viral hepatitis a significant public health threat; however, there are limited representative data on HBV burden, risk factors, clinical significance, and interaction with co-infections and co-morbidities that are common in Zambia. In collaboration with the Central Statistical Office, MoH, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zambia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) will be testing a representative sample of Zambians across all 10 provinces for HBV infection. This is an important first step toward understanding the burden of disease and its distribution across the country. The goal of this study is to generate further information for consumption by local and regional health policymakers. The Investigators will research the epidemiologic risk factors for lifetime and current HBV infection, characterize clinical features of chronic HIV in Zambia, and describe key virological, serological, and comorbid factors that are critical to developing the best policies for HBV control in Zambia.