1. Prevalence and associated risk factors for hepatitis B and C viruses among refugee populations living in Mahama, Rwanda: A cross-sectional study
- Author
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Jeanne Mumporeze, Dina Denis Rwamuhinda, Jean Damascene Makuza, Dale A. Barnhart, Françoise Nyirahabihirwe, Maurice Nkundibiza, Jean d’Amour Ndahimana, Innocent Kamali, Tumusime Musafiri, Fredrick Kateera, Janvier Serumondo, Gallican Rwibasira Nshogoza, Sandra Urusaro, Kassim Noor, Joel Mubiligi, and Jean de la Paix Gakuru
- Subjects
RNA viruses ,Male ,HBsAg ,Epidemiology ,Gastroenterology and hepatology ,Hepacivirus ,Hepatitis ,Geographical Locations ,Liver disease ,Risk Factors ,Seroepidemiologic Studies ,Prevalence ,Medicine ,Mass Screening ,Pathology and laboratory medicine ,Refugees ,Family Characteristics ,Multidisciplinary ,Hepatitis C virus ,Cancer Risk Factors ,virus diseases ,Hepatitis C ,Hepatitis B ,Medical microbiology ,Viral Load ,Middle Aged ,Infectious hepatitis ,Oncology ,Viruses ,Infectious diseases ,Female ,Pathogens ,Viral hepatitis ,Viral load ,Research Article ,Medical conditions ,Adult ,Hepatitis B virus ,Adolescent ,Science ,Viral diseases ,Microbiology ,Young Adult ,Virology ,Humans ,Mass screening ,Liver diseases ,Demography ,Aged ,Medicine and health sciences ,Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ,Biology and life sciences ,Flaviviruses ,business.industry ,Organisms ,Viral pathogens ,Rwanda ,Hepatitis C Antibodies ,medicine.disease ,digestive system diseases ,Hepatitis viruses ,Microbial pathogens ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Medical Risk Factors ,People and Places ,Africa ,business ,Viral Transmission and Infection - Abstract
Introduction As part of the integration of refugees into Rwanda’s national hepatitis C elimination agenda, a mass screening campaign for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) was conducted among Burundian refugees living in Mahama Camp, Eastern Rwanda. This cross-sectional survey used data from the screening campaign to report on the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in this setting. Methods Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were used to screen for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) among people of ≥15years old. We calculated seroprevalence for HBsAg and anti-HCV by age and sex and also calculated age-and-sex adjusted risk ratios (ARR) for other possible risk factors. Results Of the 26,498 screened refugees, 1,006 (3.8%) and 297 (1.1%) tested positive for HBsAg and Anti-HCV, respectively. HBsAg was more prevalent among men than women and most common among people 25–54 years old. Anti-HCV prevalence increased with age group with no difference between sexes. After adjusting for age and sex, having a household contact with HBsAg was associated with 1.59 times higher risk of having HBsAg (95% CI: 1.27, 1.99) and having a household contact with anti-HCV was associated with 3.66 times higher risk of Anti-HCV (95% CI: 2.26, 5.93). Self-reporting having HBV, HCV, liver disease, or previously screened for HBV and HCV were significantly associated with both HBsAg and anti-HCV, but RDT-confirmed HBsAg and anti-HCV statuses were not associated with each other. Other risk factors for HBsAg included diabetes (ARR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.59) and family history of hepatitis B (ARR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.56) and for anti-HCV included heart disease (ARR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.80) and history of surgery (ARR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.32). Conclusion Sero-prevalence and risks factors for hepatitis B and C among Burundian were comparable to that in the Rwandan general population. Contact tracing among household members of identified HBsAg and anti-HCV infected case may be an effective approach to targeted hepatitis screening given the high risk among self-reported cases. Expanded access to voluntary testing may be needed to improve access to hepatitis treatment and care in other refugee settings.
- Published
- 2021