Abstract
Hepatitis agents infect the liver through fecal oral (hepatitis A) or blood and other body secretions (hepatitis B and C). The aim of this systematic review was the determination of status and risk factors of hepatitis agents among Middle East countries. For this systematic review, the terms “transmission route”, “prevalence/ rate”, “Middle East”, “North Africa”, “Hepatitis B” and “Hepatitis C” were searched from motor engines of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and SciVerse. Exclusion criteria were “migrants to the region” and “healthy carriers”. The results showed that the presence of hepatitis B and C viruses in poor and populated areas, mostly in North Africa. Hepatitis B, as the most common infectious disease in the world, especially in Africa was found with a high endemic status except for Tunisia and Morocco. Moreover, it was demonstrated that Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have high hepatitis B endemic features. The prevalence of HCV has been reported as high in 12 MENA countries in 2010. Hepatitis E was determined to be in a high prevalence among countries of the region. The results showed that the presence of hepatitis B and C viruses in poor and more populated areas, mostly in North Africa is very high. Hepatitis A was found at a very high rate among young children in several countries in this region. Hepatitis B, as the most common infectious disease in the world, especially in Africa was found with a high endemic status except for Tunisia and Morocco. Moreover, it was demonstrated that Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have high hepatitis B endemicity. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported as high in 12 MENA countries in 2010. Hepatitis E was determined to be in a high prevalence among countries of the region.