Prevalence of blood-borne viral hepatitis in different communities in Yemen

Sallam, T. A., Tong, C. Y. W., Cuevas, L. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-0587, Raja'a, Y. A., Othman, A. M. and Al-Kharsa, K. R. (2003) 'Prevalence of blood-borne viral hepatitis in different communities in Yemen'. Epidemiology and Infection, Vol 131, Issue 1, pp. 771-775.

Preview

Text Sallam_2003.pdf - Published Version Download (583kB)

Abstract

It is generally believed that hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are highly prevalent in the Republic of Yemen. This study investigated the prevalence of HBV and HCV markers in 494 blood donors from Aden, 493 blood donors from Sana'a, 97 residents from an African ethnic minority in Sanaa and 99 residents of Soqotra Island. There were significant differences in the prevalence of HBV carriage (HBsAg: 6.7, 15, 19.6 and 26.3% respectively; P<0.001); past HBV infection (anti-HBc: 17.4, 18.5, 30.9 and 59.6% respectively; P<0.001); susceptibility to HBV (absence of HBV markers: 73.3, 61.9, 38.1 and 9.1% respectively; P<0.001), infectivity of HBV carriers (HBV DNA: 51.5, 33.8,52.6 and 65.4% respectively; P=0.028) and HCV antibodies (RIBA confirmed or indeterminate: 0.6, 0.2, 5.2 and 5.1% respectively; P<0.001). A significant difference in HBV carrier rate and a borderline significant difference in the prevalence of natural infection was observed between males and females in the African community (P=0.02 and 0.06 respectively). In contrast, in Soqotra Island, there was no significant sex difference in HBV carrier rate but susceptibility was significantly more prevalent in males (P=0.03). This study illustrates that significant difference in prevalence and epidemiology exists among different communities within the same country, reflecting political, geographical and social differences. Control strategies should take these differences into account.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This item should be cited as: T. A. SALLAM, C. Y. W. TONG, L. E. CUEVAS, Y. A. RAJA'A, A. M. OTHMAN and K. R. ALKHARSA (2003). Prevalence of bloodborne viral hepatitis in different communities in Yemen. Epidemiology and Infection, 131, pp 771775 doi:10.1017/S0950268803008653 and the original, electronic version can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268803008653
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Other Virus Diseases > WC 536 Human viral hepatitis
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Child & Reproductive Health Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268803008653
Depositing User:	Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2012 10:51
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:04
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2671

Statistics

View details

Actions (login required)

Edit Item