Background and Objective: Viral hepatitis is a global health problem, and infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most significant health concerns. There are 360 million people with chronic HBV infection, and 600,000 people die each year due to acute hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cirrhosis caused by HBV. The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B in Lorestan province during the years 2007-2020.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 160 patients with hepatitis B who visited healthcare centers from 2007 to 2020 in Lorestan province were examined. Their disease was confirmed using the HBsAg test, and 30 patients were excluded from the study due to incomplete records and unavailability. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 19 software.

Results: This study showed that out of 130 patients studied, 53.1% (69 individuals) were male and 46.9% (61 individuals) were female, with a mean age of 39.8 ± 16.8 years and a range of 9 to 82 years. The majority of patients were observed in the age group under 30 years (36.2%, 47 individuals) and 30-49 years (33.1%, 43 individuals). The most common occupations among them were homemakers (34.6%, 45 individuals) followed by unemployed individuals (17.7%, 23 individuals), and the least common occupations were drivers and healthcare personnel, each accounting for 3.1% (4 individuals) in terms of hepatitis B. The highest prevalence of HBV was observed in individuals with a high school diploma (34.6%, 45 individuals) and those with higher education than a high school diploma (32.3%, 42 individuals), while the lowest infection rate of HBV was found in individuals with less than a high school diploma (17.1%, 17 individuals). It was reported that 78.5% (102 individuals) were married and 21.5% (28 individuals) were single, and 77.1% (101 individuals) were urban while 22.9% (29 individuals) were rural. Out of the 130 patients studied, 36.9% (48 individuals) had a positive family history of hepatitis B. Among the studied patients, 8.5% (11 individuals) had a history of addiction, 0.8% (1 individual) had a history of intravenous drug use, and 5.4% (7 individuals) had a history of imprisonment among those diagnosed with hepatitis B. 13.1% (17 individuals) had a history of tattooing, 12.3% (16 individuals) had a history of surgery, and 9.2% (8 individuals) had a history of blood products usage. 3.1% (4 individuals) had a history of dental visits.

Conclusion: This study showed that there are several risk factors for hepatitis B, and in order to reduce the incidence of hepatitis B, it is better to increase public awareness of this disease in addition to vaccination, use of sterile and single-use medical and dental equipment, increase screening and follow-up of affected individuals' families.