Hepatitis B virus infection and factors associated with its acquisition among adults in a Lake Victoria HIV hyperendemic fishing community in Kyotera district, Uganda: a cross-sectional observation

April 6, 2022 by
Peace Mirembe (V3locity)

Ssuuna C, Ssempijja V, Kalibbala S, Serwadda D, Yeh PT, Wawer M, Gray R, Chang L, Kagaayi J, Reynolds S. Hepatitis B virus infection and factors associated with its acquisition among adults in a Lake Victoria HIV hyperendemic fishing community in Kyotera district, Uganda: a cross-sectional observation. BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 7;12(4):e050436. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050436. PMID: 35393306; PMCID: PMC8990708. 


Abstract

Objective: 

To investigate hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence and factors associated with viral acquisition in a HIV-hyperendemic fishing community, we tested sera for anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Design: 

Observational cross-sectional study.

Setting: 

Large fishing village on Lake Victoria, one of the HIV-hyperendemic Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) sites (HIV prevalence ~40%).

Participants: 

Sample of 460 RCCS participants aged 15-49 years from survey conducted from 5 December 2016 to 13 February 2017. These proportionately included HIV-negative, HIV-positive antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve and HIV positive on ART participants.

Results: 

Of the 460 participants, 49.6% (95% CI 45.0% to 54.1%) had evidence of prior HBV infection and 3.7% (95% CI 2.3% to 5.9%) were either acutely or chronically infected. HBV risk increased with age, number of lifetime sex partners and HIV seropositivity. HBV risk decreased with HIV ART use among HIV-positive participants. Prevalence of prior HBV infection was 17.1% in participants aged 15-19 years, 43.2%, 55.3% and 70.1% in participants aged 20-39, 30-39 and 40-49 years, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, the prevalence of prior HBV infection was 23.8% in participants with 0-1 lifetime sex partners, 43.2% and 54.8% in participants with 2-3 lifetime sex partners and 4+ lifetime sex partners, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions: 

Findings from this fishing community suggest the need to provide HBV vaccination to adults at risk of sexual transmission who have not been previously immunised.

Read More


Share this post
Tags
Archive