Human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis among high-risk groups: Understanding the knowledge gap in the Middle East and North Africa Region

Melhem, Nada M.; Rahhal, Nour; Charide, Rana; Kreidieh, Khalil; El-Khatib, Rolla

doi:10.4254/wjh.v7.i25.2619

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Specifically, the sexual mode of HIV transmission was dominant in the group with HIV mono-infection, and in those with HBV co-infection, while in patients with HCV co-infection the IVDU was the most prevalent one. These data confirm that HBV co-infection is more frequent in the population of MSM [36,37], and HCV in the population of IVDU [32,38], which might change the epidemiological situation in Serbia in the future. Unlike the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in Serbia, when the prevailing transmission of infection was through blood, especially IVDU [26], at the present time the prevailing mode of transmission is through sexual contacts, primarily homosexual [26].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Comparison of Demographic, Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with HIV Mono-infection Versus Patients Co-infected with HCV or/and HBV: A Serbian Cohort Study

Ranin

Salemović

Brmbolic

et al. 2018

CHR

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Comparison of Demographic, Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with HIV Mono-infection Versus Patients Co-infected with HCV or/and HBV: A Serbian Cohort Study

Ranin

Salemović

Brmbolic

et al. 2018

CHR

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“…The prevalence of hepatitis B infection among study FSW was higher than those previously reported in young sexually active adults (14.0%) [ 56 ] or students (15.5%) [ 57 ] living in Bangui. Interestingly, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among study FSW was higher in FSW practicing anal sex, which constitutes well-documented risk factor for hepatitis B virus acquisition [ 58 ].None of them were injecting drug users, the other main risk factor for hepatitis B [ 59 ]. The high hepatitis B virus infection prevalence among FSW in the CAR is an indication that active sexual transmission is an important factor in the spread of hepatitis B virus infection in the country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for HIV infection among female sex workers in Bangui, Central African Republic

et al. 2017

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ObjectiveThe aims of the study were i) to categorize female sex workers (FSW) according to socio-anthropologic criteria in Bangui; ii) to examine the association between a selection of demographic and risk variables with the different categories of female sex work as outcome, and iii) to investigate factors associated with HIV status.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to describe the spectrum of commercial sex work in Bangui among 345 sexually active women. After collection of social and behavioral characteristics, each woman received a physical examination and a blood sample was taken for biological analyses, including HIV testing. The relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral variables involved in high risk for HIV as well as biological results were investigated by bivariate analysis in relationship with FSW categories as main outcomes, and by bivariate analysis followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis in relationship with HIV as the main outcome. The strength of statistical associations was measured by crude and adjusted Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe typology of FSW comprised six different categories. Two groups were the “official” professional FSW primarily classified according to their locations of work [i) “kata“(18.55%) representing women working in poor neighborhoods of Bangui; ii) “pupulenge” (13.91%) working in hotels and night clubs to seek white men]. Four groups were “clandestine” nonprofessional FSW classified according to their reported main activity [i) “market and street vendors” (20.86%); ii) “schoolgirls or students” (19.13%) involved in occasional transactional sex (during holidays); iii) “housewives or unemployed women” (15.65%); iv) “civil servants” (11.88%) working as soldiers or in the public sector]. The overall prevalence of HIV-1 was 19.12% (66/345). HIV varied according to FSW categories. Thus, among professional FSW, the HIV prevalence was 6-fold higher in "kata" than "pupulenge" (39.13% versus 6.30%; P = 0.001). Among nonprofessional FSW, the "vendors" showed the highest HIV prevalence (31.91%), which was higher than in "students" (6.10%; P = 0.001), "civil servants" (9.83%; P = 0.005), and "housewives" (13.00%; P = 0.01). In bivariate analysis, the following variables showed statistically significant association with risk for HIV infection: nationality; age of first sexual intercourse; self-assessment of HIV risk; knowledge of HIV status; anal sex practice with last clients; irregular condom use in last week; consumption of alcohol; other psycho-active substances; past history of STIs; HBs Ag; HSV-2 and bacterial vaginosis. However, the variable “sex workers categories” dichotomized into professional versus nonprofessional FSW was no longer associated with HIV. In multivariate logistical regression analysis, HIV infection was strongly associated with nationality (15.65% versus 3.77%) [adjusted OR (aOR) 3.39: 95% CI:1.25–9.16, P<0.05]; age of first sexual intercourse (21.10% versus 14.00%)...

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“…Data on the infectious burden and clinical severity of HCV and/or HBV coinfection among these key populations of HIV-infected individuals is scant and of uneven quality. Although the dominant transmission mode for HBV, HCV, and HIV infection is different for each virus [ 5 ], key population groups such as migrant labourers, female sex workers, and intravenous drug users (IDUs) are common victims of all three viruses [ 6 ]. In Nepal, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in the general population is 0.47% and 0.64%, respectively [ 7 , 8 ], dramatically lower than the 3.2% and 4.1% among HIV-infected individuals [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Profile and Risk Factors for Acquiring HBV and/or HCV in HIV-Infected Population Groups in Nepal

Bhattarai¹,

Baniya

Aryal

et al. 2018

BioMed Research International

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HBV and HCV infections are widespread among the HIV-infected individuals in Nepal. The goals of this study were to investigate the epidemiological profile and risk factors for acquiring HBV and/or HCV coinfection in disadvantaged HIV-positive population groups in Nepal. We conducted a retrospective study on blood samples from HIV-positive patients from the National Public Health Laboratory at Kathmandu to assay for HBsAg, HBeAg, and anti-HCV antibodies, HIV viral load, and CD4+ T cell count. Among 579 subjects, the prevalence of HIV-HBV, HIV-HCV, and HIV-HBV-HCV coinfections was 3.62%, 2.93%, and 0.34%, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that spouses of HIV-positive migrant labourers were at significant risk for coinfection with HBV infection, and an age of >40 years in HIV-infected individuals was identified as a significant risk factor for HCV coinfection. Overall our study indicates that disadvantaged population groups such as intravenous drug users, migrant workers and their spouses, female sex workers, and men who have sex with HIV-infected men are at a high and persistent risk of acquiring viral hepatitis. We conclude that Nepalese HIV patients should receive HBV and HCV diagnostic screening on a regular basis.

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Human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis among high-risk groups: Understanding the knowledge gap in the Middle East and North Africa Region

Abstract: The MENA countries are in urgent need of advanced research and strengthening of the data collection systems and reporting practices of these infections among key populations.

Cited by 16 publications

References 59 publications

Comparison of Demographic, Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with HIV Mono-infection Versus Patients Co-infected with HCV or/and HBV: A Serbian Cohort Study

Comparison of Demographic, Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with HIV Mono-infection Versus Patients Co-infected with HCV or/and HBV: A Serbian Cohort Study

Risk factors for HIV infection among female sex workers in Bangui, Central African Republic

Epidemiological Profile and Risk Factors for Acquiring HBV and/or HCV in HIV-Infected Population Groups in Nepal

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