“When the virus ages with the patient”: Disease-specific quality of life in individuals with hepatitis B virus infection in Ghana

BackgroundThis study examined disease-specific quality of life among people living with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in northern Ghana, where the condition remains highly endemic.MethodUsing a cross-sectional design, 264 individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus infection were recruited from 1 regional hospital and 3 district hospitals. Data were collected through structured interviews using the validated hepatitis B virus quality of life (HBQoL) instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.ResultParticipants had a mean age of 38 years (±16.5), with a nearly equal sex distribution. The overall global HBQoL mean score was 63.6 (±20.0), reflecting a moderate quality of life. Regression analysis identified age, hepatitis B virus profile, and the presence of complications as significant predictors. Each additional year of age increased the odds of better quality of life by 2.8% (odds ratio = 1.028, p = 0.002). Hepatitis B envelope antigen negativity was inversely associated with high quality of life (odds ratio = 0.344, p = 0.013). Additionally, the absence of hepatitis B virus complications was associated with lower odds of good quality of life in this population (odds ratio = 0.300, p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that psychosocial and clinical interventions should complement biomedical care. Addressing the unique quality of life challenges of people living with the hepatitis B virus is essential for holistic management in Ghana and similar settings.