RESUMO
Background Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infection remains significant public health problem worldwide. Unfortunately, the Democratic Republic of Congo is in an area of high endemicity, and its population remains poorly informed about these viral infections. Therefore, this study aims to determine Lubumbashi's knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward HBV and HCV. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study from March to August 2022 in Lubumbashi. A total of 704 participants were enrolled. We targeted all people of both sexes and ages. The participants' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey was assessed using online and printed or paper questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. Results Of the 704 participants, 70.9% had poor knowledge of viral hepatitis B and C, whereas 28.6% had terrible attitudes towards these infections and preferred to consult traditional healers instead of going to the hospital. A minority of the participants (12.2%) had good practices, those as being screened regularly to exclude any possible infection and being willing to be vaccinated depending on the availability of the HBV vaccine. Most participants (69.2%) needed to be aware of drugs that could effectively treat these infections. Conclusion Knowledge and practice about HBV and HCV in the Congolese population living in Lubumbashi have proven wrong. Similarly, the attitudes of the people towards these infections were negative. Therefore, an extensive health education program should be given to increase the awareness of this part of the Congolese population about HBV and HCV infection to provide better care.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Vírus da Hepatite B , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Educação em Saúde , Hepacivirus , DiagnósticoRESUMO
At the 67° World Health Assembly (WHA67.6), member states are encouraged to undertake measures to ensure and strengthen surveillance, prevention, access to treatment and control of viral hepatitis in all countries. In this context- and although in Chile hepatitis C is considered a low endemic pathology- efforts have been made to improve the lives of people infected by this virus. In the process of inclusion of new direct-action therapies such as Explicit Guarantees in Health (GES), it was necessary to know the real demand, as well as some important variables for decision-making. Methodology: In 2016, the Ministry of Health requested to the centers of hepatitis C of the public health system of the country, to report in Excel spreadsheets the list of patients under control, including variables of clinical-epidemiological interest. Sensitive data from these cases guaranteed throughout the process. Descriptive analysis of the profile of the patient, genotype, comorbidities, as well as liver transplantation, the result of previous treatment and candidates for new therapies according to prioritization criteria, established in GES regulation. In the results the characterization of the patients is described: the age is concentrated between 45 and 69 years old, without greater difference by sex, the most common genotype is 1 with 60% and 18% for genotype 3, 35% has cirrhosis, 21% has esophageal varicose veins, 6% HCV/HIV co-infection, 0.8% HCV/HBV co-infection, 7% with hemophilia.
En la 67ª Asamblea Mundial de la Salud (WHA67.6) se recomienda a los estados miembros emprender medidas para garantizar y fortalecer la vigilancia, prevención, acceso al tratamiento y control de las hepatitis virales en todos los países. En este contexto, y pese a que en Chile se considera la hepatitis C como una patología de baja endemia, se han realizado esfuerzos para mejorar la vida de las personas infectadas por este virus. En el proceso de inclusión de las nuevas terapias de acción directa como garantías explícitas en Salud (GES), se requirió conocer la demanda real, así como algunas variables importantes para la toma de decisiones. Metodología: El año 2016 desde el Ministerio de Salud se solicitó a los centros tratantes de hepatitis C del sistema público de salud del país, informar el listado de pacientes bajo control, incluyendo variables de interés clínico epidemiológico requeridas en planillas Excel. Se garantizó en todo el proceso los datos sensibles de estos casos. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo del perfil del paciente, genotipo, comorbilidades, así como trasplante hepático, resultado de tratamiento anterior y candidatos a nuevas terapias según criterios de priorización, establecidos en la norma GES. En los resultados se describe la caracterización de los pacientes: la edad se concentra entre los 45 y 69 años, sin mayor diferencia por sexo, el genotipo más común es el 1 con 60% y 18% para el genotipo 3, 35% presenta cirrosis, 21% presenta várices esofágicas, 6% coinfección VHC/VIH, 0,8% coinfección VHC/VHB, 7% con hemofilia.