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Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea

Received: 31 March 2022     Accepted: 18 April 2022     Published: 16 June 2022
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Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis is a critical global health challenge and acquiring adequate and recent epidemiological data on Hepatitis B and C infections is important in prevention and control of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors related with HBV and HCV infection and associated liver enzymes profile among patients suspected of liver diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among patients suspected of liver diseases. 411 participants were screened for serological markers of anti-HCV and HBsAg using rapid assays which were further confirmed using ELISA. A predesigned structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and risk factors data. Liver function tests were also performed using an automated spectrophotometer analyzer. Furthermore, for every HBV and HCV positive samples viral load was determined. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS statistical tool. Result: The overall prevalence of HBV and HCV among study participants was 6.6% and 1.7% respectively. Hepatitis virus positive participants had substantially higher mean values of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and GGT. Viral load mean assay level was 10.6 x 106 IU/ml ranging from 20 IU/ml - 1.7 x 108 IU/ml. There was a significant association between HBsAg and sex (cOR= 4.18, 95% CI: 1.65-10.6), residence area (cOR=2.51, 95% CI: 1.10-5.69). Multivariate logistic analysis showed males were more prone to HBsAg infection (AOR= 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.0). Moreover, prevalence of liver enzyme abnormality was 8.5% (95% CI: 6.1%-8.2%). Among these patients, 24 (5.8%) had cholestatic type, 4 (1%) had hepatocellular, and the rest 7 (1.7%) had mixed type of hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Though the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection is comparatively low, regular surveillance should be conducted to prevent further spread of disease and achieve global goals of HBV and HCV elimination.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13
Page(s) 35-42
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hepatotoxicity, Chronic Liver Disease, Cholestatic, ALT, AST, Viral Load

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nahom Fessehaye, Oliver Okoth Achila, Yafet Kesete, Feven Mekonen, Lidya Woldemariam, et al. (2022). Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 7(2), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13

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    ACS Style

    Nahom Fessehaye; Oliver Okoth Achila; Yafet Kesete; Feven Mekonen; Lidya Woldemariam, et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2022, 7(2), 35-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13

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    AMA Style

    Nahom Fessehaye, Oliver Okoth Achila, Yafet Kesete, Feven Mekonen, Lidya Woldemariam, et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2022;7(2):35-42. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13,
      author = {Nahom Fessehaye and Oliver Okoth Achila and Yafet Kesete and Feven Mekonen and Lidya Woldemariam and Habte Mehari and Natnael Meles and Lidia Libsekal and Solomon Habtemichael and Yacob Brhane},
      title = {Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea},
      journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {35-42},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20220702.13},
      abstract = {Background: Viral hepatitis is a critical global health challenge and acquiring adequate and recent epidemiological data on Hepatitis B and C infections is important in prevention and control of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors related with HBV and HCV infection and associated liver enzymes profile among patients suspected of liver diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among patients suspected of liver diseases. 411 participants were screened for serological markers of anti-HCV and HBsAg using rapid assays which were further confirmed using ELISA. A predesigned structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and risk factors data. Liver function tests were also performed using an automated spectrophotometer analyzer. Furthermore, for every HBV and HCV positive samples viral load was determined. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS statistical tool. Result: The overall prevalence of HBV and HCV among study participants was 6.6% and 1.7% respectively. Hepatitis virus positive participants had substantially higher mean values of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and GGT. Viral load mean assay level was 10.6 x 106 IU/ml ranging from 20 IU/ml - 1.7 x 108 IU/ml. There was a significant association between HBsAg and sex (cOR= 4.18, 95% CI: 1.65-10.6), residence area (cOR=2.51, 95% CI: 1.10-5.69). Multivariate logistic analysis showed males were more prone to HBsAg infection (AOR= 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.0). Moreover, prevalence of liver enzyme abnormality was 8.5% (95% CI: 6.1%-8.2%). Among these patients, 24 (5.8%) had cholestatic type, 4 (1%) had hepatocellular, and the rest 7 (1.7%) had mixed type of hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Though the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection is comparatively low, regular surveillance should be conducted to prevent further spread of disease and achieve global goals of HBV and HCV elimination.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Suspected of Liver Diseases in Asmara, Eritrea
    AU  - Nahom Fessehaye
    AU  - Oliver Okoth Achila
    AU  - Yafet Kesete
    AU  - Feven Mekonen
    AU  - Lidya Woldemariam
    AU  - Habte Mehari
    AU  - Natnael Meles
    AU  - Lidia Libsekal
    AU  - Solomon Habtemichael
    AU  - Yacob Brhane
    Y1  - 2022/06/16
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13
    T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
    SP  - 35
    EP  - 42
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-966X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20220702.13
    AB  - Background: Viral hepatitis is a critical global health challenge and acquiring adequate and recent epidemiological data on Hepatitis B and C infections is important in prevention and control of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors related with HBV and HCV infection and associated liver enzymes profile among patients suspected of liver diseases in Asmara, Eritrea. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among patients suspected of liver diseases. 411 participants were screened for serological markers of anti-HCV and HBsAg using rapid assays which were further confirmed using ELISA. A predesigned structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and risk factors data. Liver function tests were also performed using an automated spectrophotometer analyzer. Furthermore, for every HBV and HCV positive samples viral load was determined. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS statistical tool. Result: The overall prevalence of HBV and HCV among study participants was 6.6% and 1.7% respectively. Hepatitis virus positive participants had substantially higher mean values of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and GGT. Viral load mean assay level was 10.6 x 106 IU/ml ranging from 20 IU/ml - 1.7 x 108 IU/ml. There was a significant association between HBsAg and sex (cOR= 4.18, 95% CI: 1.65-10.6), residence area (cOR=2.51, 95% CI: 1.10-5.69). Multivariate logistic analysis showed males were more prone to HBsAg infection (AOR= 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.0). Moreover, prevalence of liver enzyme abnormality was 8.5% (95% CI: 6.1%-8.2%). Among these patients, 24 (5.8%) had cholestatic type, 4 (1%) had hepatocellular, and the rest 7 (1.7%) had mixed type of hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Though the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection is comparatively low, regular surveillance should be conducted to prevent further spread of disease and achieve global goals of HBV and HCV elimination.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • Department of Allied Health Sciences, Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

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