Preliminary study of seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis B infection in pregnant women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, defined as positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), remains a public health problem nationally and globally. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HBV infection in pregnant women in the city of Lubumbashi.Methods: A Cross-sectional study of the 269 pregnant women received at Shalina Polyclinic in Lubumbashi was conducted. HBV screening was performed by the PCR technique (using the COBAS TaqMan 48 controller). The chi-square test and the calculation of the odds-ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals were used with the significance level set at p less than 0.05.Results: The mean age of pregnant women was 30.0 ± 5.34 years (range, 17 to 44 years). The majority of them were unemployed (98.51%) and married (99.25%). All pregnant women were unaware of their HBV serologic status and had not been vaccinated against HBV. Eighteen (6.69% [95% CI: 4.01-10.37%]) participants had HBsAg positive and four (1.48% [95% CI: 0.41-3.76%]) were HIV-positive. The highest prevalence of hepatitis B was observed in the age group between 31-40 (10.53%), single (50%), women with paying occupation (25%) and diabetes mellitus (14.29%) and a history of surgery (14.29%) with no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). However, HBV was significantly higher in HIV-positive pregnant women, who presented a risk of nearly 9-fold higher (50% versus 6.04%; OR adjusted: 8.89 [1.04-76.09]) compared to HIV-negative pregnant women.Conclusion: our study shows that hepatitis B is a public health problem among pregnant women in the city of Lubumbashi. The history of HIV infection is independently associated with HBV infection in this context

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus, its risk factors and co-infection with human immune deficiency virus among clients of voluntary counseling and testing center in Hosanna, Southern Ethiopia

Hepatitis B infection (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem worldwide and its co-infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is common due to shared routes of transmission. An increased mortality due to accelerated hepatic disease progression and the frequent hepatotoxicity caused by antiretroviral therapy are the challenges in the clinical management of HIV. Epidemiological studies on HBV and HBV/HIV co infection are scarce in Ethiopia, particularly at the study area. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of HBV, its risk factors and co-infection with HIV among clients of a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center in Southern Ethiopia. A facility based crosssectional study was conducted from 1st February 2016 to 15th March among clients of Nigist Eleni Memorial Hospital VCT Center. Data were collected by face-to-face interview and specific formula sheet as well recorded results of laboratory diagnosis of blood sample from each participant. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was done to identify predictors of HBV. Overall, 331 participants were included in the study. The prevalence of HBV was 8.8%, HBV/HIV co-infection was found in 3.6%. Individuals with a history of multiple sexual partner [AOR = 10.3; 95% CI, 3.71 - 28.83], previous history of invasive procedure [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.88; 95% CI, 3.84 - 30.86] and history of surgical procedure [AOR = 9.2; 95% CI, 3.1 - 27.88] were identified as in dependent predictors of HBV infection. High HBV infection and HBV/HIV coinfection was found in the study.Previous history of surgical procedure, invasive procedure and multiple sexual partners were identified as independent predictor of HBV infection

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cameroon

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and cirrhosis are major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In Cameroon, which is a highly endemic zone for HBV, its epidemiologic characteristics are not known. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of hepatitis B-associated HCC in our milieu for a better management of the disease. Methods: Patients suffering from HCC in two hospitals in Yaounde were sampled and screened for HBV, HCV and HDV. Only HBV related HCC were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, presence or not of cirrhosis, excessive alcohol consumption (>80g/day) and smoking were analyzed. Results: A total of 34 cases of HCC were identified. The mean age was 38.5±12.3 years (extremes 18 ­ 74 years); 79.4% (27/34) were males (sex ratio 3.9:1); 55.9% (19/34) had cirrhosis while 44.1% (15/34) were non cirrhotic. Also, 44.1% (15/34) were smokers and 2.9% (1/34) were alcoholics. The prevalence of HCC was 14.7%, 47.7%, 20.6%, 11.8% and 5.9% amongst those below 30 years, 30­39 years, 40­49 years, 50­59 years and 60 years and above respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean ages of cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients (38.9±11.3 vs. 38.0±14 years, p=0.08). The majority of patients below 30 years had no cirrhosis at the moment the diagnosis of HCC was made (80% vs. 39.9%, p=0.08). Cirrhosis was more frequent amongst those aged 30­39 years (68.8% vs. 44.4%, p=0.16). There was no other difference between cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients. Neither alcohol nor smoking had no a synergic effect in the development of HCC. Conclusion: Most patients with hepatitis B-associated HCC in Cameroon are aged below 40 years. Cirrhosis is not always present at diagnosis. The epidemiologic profiles of cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients are similar. The influence of alcohol and tobacco is negligible. The introduction of HBV vaccine in the extended immunization program in 2005 was thus necessary in our country

Hepatitis B Virus Infection: the Burden of Disease in South Africa

Hepatitis B virus infection; both acute and chronic; occurs commonly in the black population of South Africa; and chronic infection and its sequelae of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are major public health threats. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is rare in the other population groups; with the exception of the very small Chinese community. Prevalences of chronic carriage of hepatitis B virus in South African blacks are 5-16in rural males; 8-9in urban males; 4-12in rural females; and 2.7-4in urban females. The overall male to female ratio is 2.6:1.0. There are now three to four million South African blacks who are chronically infected with this virus. In rural black populations chronic hepatitis B virus infection is acquired very early in life; predominantly as a result of horizontal transmission of the virus; and by the age of 5 years carrier rates approach those seen in adulthood. A further slight increase occurs at school-going age and a greater increase at the time of becoming sexually active. Urban black carrier rates are significantly lower and the infection is acquired later in life. The decreased urban viral carriage rates occur mainly in the first generation born in an urban environment. Hepatitis B virus accounts for about 60of clinically evident acute viral hepatitis among blacks and about 10of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It is the cause of the majority of the many cases of hepatocellular carcinoma that occur in black South Africans. The tumour is more common in males and in rural-born than in urban-born blacks. The close association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma holds true in rural and urban patients and males and females. The association is age-related; being closer in younger patients. Genotypes A and D of hepatitis B virus predominate in South African isolates; with genotype A and its subtype Aa having aparticularly high hepatocarcinogenic potential

HBV and HCV among volunteer blood donors

During the period between April 1992 and May 1995, 3576 volunteer blood donors had their sera tested for: HBsAg, HCV [antibodies] by ELISA II and ALT. Sera with high ALT were retested for: ASA, AMA and Anti Bilharzial Antibodies. 80 volunteers were HBsAg positive [2.2%], among them only 3 cases [3.8%] had their ALT elevated. HCV antibodies were +ve in 312 [8.7%] volunteers, among them 39 cases had elevated ALT [12.6%]. 28 cases had their sera positive for both HBsAg and HCV Ab [0.8%], among them 4 cases had elevated ALT [14.3%]. 6 cases had their ALT elevated with all other tests -ve [HBsAg, HCV Ab, ASA, AMA and Anti Bilharzial Ab]. 1. There is significant reduction in the prevalence rate of HBV among Egyptians reflecting a significant increase in the health services. 2. Prevalence rate of HCV among the tested sample is much lower than previously recorded rates and this clarify the urgent need for a national project to estimate the true prevalence of HCV among different communities as it looks that the differences in the prevalence rate of HCV are due to the difference in the tested samples. 3. Most of HCV antibodies positive cases might be either: inactive cases or carriers. 4. ALT testing should not be used as a lone test for blood transfusion safety as most cases with HCV +ve antibodies had their ALT normal. 5. There is a possibility of the presence of Non -B Non-C virus among Egyptian blood donors. HBsAg = Hepatitis B Surface Antigen. HCV = Hepatitis C Virus. ALT = Alanine Amino-Transferase. ASA= Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibodies. AMA = Anti-Mitochondrial Antibodies. Ab = Antibody

Epidemiologie de l'hepatite a virus B (HBV) en Afrique Centrale

Les auteurs rapportent les resultats de quatorze enquetes sero-epidemiologiques sur l'hepatite virale a virus B (HBV) effectues en Afrique Centrale. Les Etats membres de l'OCEAC se situent; d'apres les criteres OMS; dans des niveaux de frequence elevee d'endemicite de l'antigene HBs avec des taux de seroprevalence variant de 7 a 25 pour cent. Ces etudes amenent a penser que le pool des sujets positifs par l'Ag HBs se constitue essentiellement pendant la premiere enfance; ce qui est fortement en faveur de l'introduction de la vaccination specifique dans les Programmes Elargis de Vaccination