Prevalence of HBsAg and Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus among Female Sex Workers in Bangui

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. Sex workers remain a vulnerable group. Objective: To determine the prevalence of HBsAg and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody transport among female sex workers (FSW) in Bangui. Patients and Methods: All FSW carriers of HBsAg and/or anti-HCV Antibodies were collected in a 6-month cross-sectional analytical study. The HBsAg research used the Monolisa HBsAg® (BioMérieux®) technique, sandwich ELISA. HCV serology consisted of the search for anti HCV antibodies by monolisa HCV (BioMérieux®), Elisa of the sandwich type. HIV serology used two Elisa tests (Genscreen® and Vironostika®). Data analysis was done using Epi Info 3.5.1 software. The Chi 2 test was used for comparison with a significance level p < 0.05. Results: Among the 345 FSW enrolled, 41 (11.9%) were carriers of HBsAg and 3 (0.8%) had anti HCV antibodies. The mean age was 21.3 years in HBsAg-positive FSW and 25 years in FSW with anti-HCV antibodies. FSW with HBsAg engaged in informal trade (n = 17), prostitution in bars or on the street (n = 15) and prostitution in the city (n = 9). On the other hand, the 3 FSW carrying anti-HCV antibodies were engaged in prostitution in the city. The 41 FSW HBsAg positive and 304 FSW HBsAg negative had at least 3 sexual partners.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Syphilis and Associated Factors Among Female Sex Workers in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The current finding is higher than findings of studies conducted in Dessie, Ethiopia, where the rate was 0.6%; 38 Bangui, the Central Republic of Africa, where the rate was 0.8%, 28 and Brazil, where the rate was 0.9%. 25 Furthermore, it is lower than the South African study, at 16%.…”

“…27 According to earlier studies carried out in Bangui, the Central African Republic, 11.9% of FSWs tested positive for HBsAg. 28 Similar HBV prevalence values were recorded in Iran at 11.2%. 29 Additionally, Argentina’s HBsAg prevalence was determined to be 14.4%.…”

Applying RT-PCR standard detection procedures of HBV and HCV in Wasit blood bank

“…Blood transfusion is considered to be a potential risk factor for the transmission of blood-borne viral infections (Eboumbou et al, 2014). Hepatitis B and hepatitis C Virus infections are a significant global public health concern (Police et al, 2020). Many men, 40-80% live with chronic hepatitis B or C are unaware of their serostatus, and remain infectious to others (Ayele et al, 2020).…”