According to the results of the first national seroprevalence survey of these diseases
Only 62 and 57 people have already been screened for hepatitis B and hepatitis C respectively, ie 0.5 and 0.4% of respondents. Among them, 8 were known carriers of hepatitis B (12.9%), including 5 treated and 3 known carriers of hepatitis C (6%) including 2 treated.
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has published the results of the first national seroprevalence survey of viral hepatitis (HV). This survey, conducted in 2019 with the support of WHO and UNICEF, provides reliable epidemiological data on HV to guide the interventions of the national strategic plan. As part of this survey, a total of 12,676 people were questioned, of which 12,147 were sampled, from 4,575 households visited by the 17 teams of surveyors.
Only 62 and 57 people have already been screened for hepatitis B and hepatitis C respectively, ie 0.5 and 0.4% of respondents. Among them, 8 were known carriers of hepatitis B (12.9%), including 5 treated and 3 known carriers of hepatitis C (6%) including 2 treated. Regarding the factors of exposure to HVB / HCV, 30% and 40% of the participants reported a history of medicalized and non-medicalized dental care, respectively, the use of traditional barber services (22%), use of traditional bloodletting (7%), blood transfusion (2%), incarceration (0.4%) and drug injection (0.1%).
With regard to the seroprevalences concerning infection by the hepatitis B virus, the survey reveals that out of a total of 11,996 tested for the search for anti-HBc antibodies, testifying to an old or recent infection with HBV, 1,189 were found to be positive, i.e. an overall seroprevalence of 10.3%. The chronicity of the infection was verified in 6.9% of cases (78 participants) by the presence of HBs Ag. As a result, the seroprevalence of chronic viral hepatitis B is 0.7%. This prevalence increases to more than 1% in adults over the age of 41. As regards the seroprevalences concerning the infection by the hepatitis B virus, a total of 11,991 were tested for the search for anti-HCV antibodies testifying to an old or recent infection with HCV.
The results thus revealed a national seroprevalence of 0.5% and therefore contact with the HCV virus. With regard to the seroprevalences concerning infection with the hepatitis A virus, the analysis of 2,451 samples in search of anti-HAV antibodies testifying to an old or recent infection with HAV revealed a national seroprevalence of 88% and therefore an immunization against HAV infection. Finally, concerning vaccination against hepatitis B, the survey specifies that out of a total of 3,762 participants aged between 5 and 18 years, 97% (i.e. 3,656) had received at least one dose of the vaccine against HBV and 91% in received 3 doses.
It should be noted that vaccination was carried out in 99.7% in the public sector. The vaccine against HBV was administered in the first week of birth in 3.6% of cases (24% of cases in the first 24 hours after birth). The distribution of the population aged between 5 and 18 years according to the number of doses received of the anti-HBV vaccine shows that 87% received 3 doses, 4 doses (4%), 2 doses (2%) and 1 dose (7%) .