BACKGROUND: Infant immunization against hepatitis B began in Uganda in 2002. OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and explore risk factors. METHODS: A hepatitis B prevalence study was nested in the 2005 national HIV/AIDS serobehavioural survey. Demographic characteristics and risk factors were explored by questionnaire. One third of blood specimens (n=5875) from adults aged 15 to 59 years were tested for hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb); positive specimens were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). RESULTS: HBcAb was present in 52.3% (95% CI: 51.0-53.6) of adults, and HBsAg in 10.3% (9.5-11.1). By 15-19 years of age, 40.0% had been infected with HBV. Prevalence of both markers was significantly higher across northern Uganda, in rural areas, among the poor and least educated, and in uncircumcised men. Other independent predictors of infection were age, ethnic group, occupation, number of sex partners, and HIV and HSV-2 status. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B virus infection is highly endemic in Uganda, with transmission occurring in childhood and adulthood. More than 1.4 million adults are chronically infected and some communities disproportionately affected. The hepatitis B infant immunization programme should be sustained and catch-up vaccination considered for older children.
BACKGROUND:Infant immunization against hepatitis B began in Uganda in 2002. OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and explore risk factors. METHODS: A hepatitis B prevalence study was nested in the 2005 national HIV/AIDS serobehavioural survey. Demographic characteristics and risk factors were explored by questionnaire. One third of blood specimens (n=5875) from adults aged 15 to 59 years were tested for hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb); positive specimens were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). RESULTS: HBcAb was present in 52.3% (95% CI: 51.0-53.6) of adults, and HBsAg in 10.3% (9.5-11.1). By 15-19 years of age, 40.0% had been infected with HBV. Prevalence of both markers was significantly higher across northern Uganda, in rural areas, among the poor and least educated, and in uncircumcised men. Other independent predictors of infection were age, ethnic group, occupation, number of sex partners, and HIV and HSV-2 status. CONCLUSION:Hepatitis B virus infection is highly endemic in Uganda, with transmission occurring in childhood and adulthood. More than 1.4 million adults are chronically infected and some communities disproportionately affected. The hepatitis Binfant immunization programme should be sustained and catch-up vaccination considered for older children.
Entities:
Keywords:
HBcAb; HBsAg; HIV; Hepatitis B is highly endemic in Uganda; Uganda; circumcision; coinfection; hepatitis B; immunization; survey; vaccine
Authors: S Vento; G di Perri; R Luzzati; M Cruciani; T Garofano; C Mengoli; E Concia; D Bassetti Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-02-11 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Phyllis C Tien; Andrea Kovacs; Peter Bacchetti; Audrey L French; Michael Augenbraun; Stephen R Cole; Nancy Hessol; Jessica Justman Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2004-10-07 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: R N Gunson; D Shouval; M Roggendorf; H Zaaijer; H Nicholas; H Holzmann; A de Schryver; D Reynders; J Connell; W H Gerlich; R T Marinho; D Tsantoulas; E Rigopoulou; M Rosenheim; D Valla; V Puro; J Struwe; R Tedder; C Aitken; M Alter; S W Schalm; W F Carman Journal: J Clin Virol Date: 2003-08 Impact factor: 3.168
Authors: C P Hudson; A J Hennis; P Kataaha; G Lloyd; A T Moore; G M Sutehall; R Whetstone; T Wreghitt; A Karpas Journal: AIDS Date: 1988-08 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Leigh Anne Eller; Michael A Eller; Benson Ouma; Peter Kataaha; Denis Kyabaggu; Richard Tumusiime; Joseph Wandege; Ronald Sanya; Warren B Sateren; Fred Wabwire-Mangen; Hannah Kibuuka; Merlin L Robb; Nelson L Michael; Mark S de Souza Journal: PLoS One Date: 2008-12-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Kathleen N Ly; Andrea A Kim; Mamo Umuro; Jan Drobenuic; John M Williamson; Joel M Montgomery; Barry S Fields; Eyasu H Teshale Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2016-06-06 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Emmanuel Seremba; Victor Ssempijja; Sarah Kalibbala; Ronald H Gray; Maria J Wawer; Fred Nalugoda; Corey Casper; Warren Phipps; Ponsiano Ocama; David Serwadda; David L Thomas; Steven J Reynolds Journal: AIDS Date: 2017-03-27 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Lara Stabinski; Steven J Reynolds; Ponsiano Ocama; Oliver Laeyendecker; David Serwadda; Ron H Gray; Maria Wawer; David L Thomas; Thomas C Quinn; Gregory D Kirk Journal: J Med Virol Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 2.327
Authors: E Seremba; J P Van Geertruyden; R Ssenyonga; C K Opio; J M Kaducu; J B Sempa; R Colebunders; P Ocama Journal: Vaccine Date: 2017-04-20 Impact factor: 3.641
Authors: Adebola T Olayinka; Akin Oyemakinde; Muhammad S Balogun; Anthonia Ajudua; Patrick Nguku; Moses Aderinola; Abiodun Egwuenu-Oladejo; Simeon W Ajisegiri; Samuel Sha'aibu; Bolanle O P Musa; Saheed Gidado; Abdulsalami Nasidi Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2016-08-15 Impact factor: 2.345