TITLE:
Study of the Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Associated Risk Factors in Cotonou (Benin) and Dakar (Senegal)
AUTHORS:
Comlan Jerome Gaston Montcho, Pelagie Mougola Bissiengou, Léopold Ngor Sene, Khadidiatou Sarr Fall, Ousseynou Boye, Moustapha Mbow, Babacar Mbengue, Alioune Dieye, Maguette Sylla Niang
KEYWORDS:
HBsAg, Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, Benin, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Immunology,
Vol.13 No.1,
March
15,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: In 2019, the WHO estimated that over 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and
over 820,000 deaths attributable to hepatitis B. Most people living with HBV are
unaware of their immune status and live in endemic areas. This is the case of Benin
and Senegal, which have little data on the disease. Objective: This study
aimed to provide epidemiological furthers on hepatitis B in Dakar and Cotonou according
to WHO recommendations about “obtaining data for action”. Materials and Methods: Our study took place
at the Medical Biology Laboratory of the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital (LBM-HOGIP)
in Dakar, Senegal. Participants were selected at the LBM-HOGIP of Dakar or at the
LBMs of the health centres of the Archdiocese of Cotonou respectively from November
to December 2019 and February to March 2020. All participants were tested for hepatitis
B virus antigen (HBsAg) using a microparticle chemiluminescence immunoassay assay. Other risk factors
including blood transfusion, haemodialysis, tattooing, cultural or clan scarification,
piercing, injecting drug use, unprotected sex and surgical procedures were also
investigated. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study was
approved by the ethics committees in Senegal and Benin. For the biological tests,
Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics software were used for the analysis of the results. Results: A total of 470 participants were recruited including 234 in Cotonou
and 236 in Dakar. The median age in Cotonou was 29 years with extremes of 10 and
65 years, and 38 years in Dakar with extremes of 6 and 93 years. The prevalence
of HBsAg was 12.39% in Cotonou and 19.91%
in Dakar. The most affected age groups were 20 - 29 in Dakar
and 30 - 39 in Cotonou. Except for piercing, none of the other risk factors considered
in our study were found to be associated with HBV transmission in our populations. Conclusion: Our study is hospital-based and revealed high prevalence of HBsAg.
These prevalences were higher in men.