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Hepatitis B and C in the adult population of Bissau, Guinea‐Bissau: a cross‐sectional survey
Author(s) -
Hønge Bo Langhoff,
Olesen Jens Steen,
Jensen Mads Mose,
Jespersen Sanne,
Silva Zacarias José,
Rodrigues Amabélia,
Laursen Alex Lund,
Wejse Christian,
Krarup Henrik,
Aaby Peter,
Erikstrup Christian
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13335
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , cross sectional study , population , hepatitis b , demography , incidence (geometry) , hepatitis c virus , sexual transmission , hepatitis c , epidemiology , men who have sex with men , immunology , virus , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , environmental health , syphilis , physics , microbicide , pathology , sociology , optics
Objective Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are prevalent in West Africa. To address the WHO 2030 goals of a 90% reduction in incidence and a 65% reduction in mortality for both infections, we assessed the prevalence of HBV and HCV from surveys in the general population. Methods Participants in this cross‐sectional survey were included from randomly selected houses in a demographic surveillance site in Bissau, Guinea‐Bissau. Participants were interviewed and had a blood sample drawn for viral analyses (HBsAg, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc, anti‐HCV and HCV RNA). Risk factors of HBV and HCV infection were determined by binomial regression adjusted for sex and age. Results A total of 2715 participants were included in this study. The overall HBsAg prevalence was 18.7% (95% CI: 17.3–20.2%). HBsAg was associated with male sex (adjusted risk ratio (aRR): 1.64), and prevalence decreased with age >34 years. HBV exposure was found in 91.9% of participants. Although 72.6% of individuals without sexual debut had been exposed to HBV, ever engaging in a sexual relationship was associated with higher risk of HBV exposure (aRR 1.18). The anti‐HCV prevalence was 0.5% (95% CI: 0.3–0.9%), and 78.6% of those had detectable HCV RNA. Risk factors for anti‐HCV sero‐positivity were age above 55 (aRR 10.60), a history of blood transfusion (aRR 5.07) and being in a polygamous marriage (aRR 3.52). Conclusion In Guinea‐Bissau initiatives to implement treatment and widespread testing are needed to reach the WHO 2030 goals.