PREVALENCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF HEPATITIS B GENOTYPE G AMONG HEPATITIS B PATIENTS ATTENDING AT BUGANDO MEDICAL CENTRE IN NORTH-WESTERN TANZANIA

Hepatitis B Genotype G (HBV/G), among other HBV genotypes, pardons an understanding of its prevalence and demographic pattern to its low response to tenofovir and high risk of hepatocellular development. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bugando Medical Center (BMC) from April 2025 to September 2025 involving 138 whole blood sample remnants from routine hepatitis B viral load testing individuals at BMC. DNA was extracted from 200µL of samples using Zymogen Quick-DNA Miniprep Plus kits. It was then amplified by two sets of hemi-nested HBV/G specific primers and analyzed by gel electrophoresis. STATA version 15 was employed in data analysis. The 138 participants had a median age: 39.0 [32-47], viral load median: 625[97-4390] IU/L. HBV/G positive were 2.9% (4/138) and their viral load median was higher than the HBV/G negative group, 198125[4555-468039] vs 604 [92-4120] IU/mL, p-value 0.036. Among the HBV/G positive individuals, 75% (3/4) were males and 50% (2/4) were from Mwanza whereas 50% (2/4) were from Geita. With the appropriate method, this study has shown that Tanzania has a low prevalence of HBV/G, more dominant in men within urban settings. Further evaluation of this finding needs to be carried out in other parts of Tanzania using a larger sample size.