Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viral Infections Among Prisoners in Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Hepatitis B and C viruses are important health and socioeconomic problem across the globe, with a remarkable number of diseases and deaths in sub-Saharan African countries. The burden of hepatitis is unknown in the prison settings of Tigrai. Therefore, we aimed to describe the seroprevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among prisoners in Tigrai, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2020 to May 2020 at the prison facilities of Tigrai. Demographics and associated factors were collected from 315 prisoners prospectively. Five milliliters of blood was collected and tested using rapid tests kits of HBsAg (Zhejiang orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd., China) and HCV antibodies (Volkan Kozmetik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd. STI, Turkey). Positive samples were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The overall seroprevalence of HBV and HCV were 25 (7.9%) and 1 (0.3%), respectively. The majority of hepatitis B viral infections were identified from the age groups of 18–25 years (10.7%) and unmarried prisoners (11.8%). Prisoners greater than 100 per cell (AOR=3.95, 95% CI=1.15–13.6, p=0.029) and with a history of alcohol consumption (AOR=3.01, 95% CI=1.17–7.74, p=0.022) were significantly associated with HBV infections.

Conclusion

The seroprevalence of HBV among prisoners was nearly high or borderline (7.9%) with a very low HCV prevalence (0.3%). HBV was most prevalent among young adults, those housed with a large number of prisoners per cell, and those who had a history of alcohol consumption. This study recommends that there should be prison-focused intervention, including regular health education, with the emphasis on the mode of transmission and introducing HBV screening policy for prisoners, especially when they enter the prison.

Keywords:

• seroprevalence
• HBV
• HCV
• prisoners
• Tigrai

Abbreviations

Anti-HCV, Anti-Hepatitis C Virus; ELISA, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; HBsAg, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen; HBV, Hepatitis B Virus; HCV, Hepatitis C Virus; HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Sciences; WHO, World Health Organizations; UN, United Nations.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the study participants for their collaboration to participate in the study. We would also like to thank the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University for their support and Mekelle University NORAD project for providing the funds to finalize this study. Our sincere thanks also go to the administration offices and staff of the respective prisons.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.