Epidemiology of viral hepatitis B and C in Iraq: a national survey 2005-2006

Abstract

Background and objective: Viral Hepatitis Type B&C is serious public health challenge throughout the world.Hepatitis B and C viruses still remain to be the major causes of chronic hepatitis.It is estimated that around 350-400 million people in the world are chronic carriers of HBV, which represents approximately 7% of the total populationwhereas infection with HCV is found in approximately 3% of the world population, which represents 160 million people. Hepatitis B infection has a wide range of seroprevalence in the Mediterranean countries ranging from intermediate (=>2% ) to high prevalence ( =>7%). World Health Organization estimated a prevalence rate for HCV infection of about 4.6% in Eastern Mediterranean in 1999. During the eightieths years of the last century, Iraq was considered to be of intermediate endemicity with hepatitis B as reflected by 3% seroprevalence of HBsAg in normal population. Hepatitis C was found to be of low endemicity among blood donors 0.5%. There were no national wide epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of hepatitis B&C accordingly we conduct this study to determine the prevalence of both types all over the Iraq. Methods: From the 1 st of January 2005 to 31 st of December 2006, a community based cross-sectional study was conducted all over Iraqi governorates. A total of 9610 persons, recruited by surveying a nationally representative random sample of households were analyzed. A stratified random sample proportional to size of each of the 18 Iraqi governorates, both urban and rural areas were included. Prevalence estimates were therefore weighted and age-adjusted. Five (5ml) of blood samples were taken from the study subjects, and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibodies . Results:The national prevalence rate of HBs Ag was 1.6% and correlated positively with age. The prevalence rate of anti-HBs antibodies was 17%. The prevalence of anti-HBc was 9.7%. The prevalence of anti-HCV was low (0.4%). The prevalence rate of anti-HBs antibodies in <10 years children is only 32.2%, which raise the issue of incomplete coverage of hepatitis B vaccine during the years preceding the study years. Conclusion:The findings revealed that Iraq is of low prevalence with HBsAg.On the other hand,hepatitis C was found to be of very low prevalence. As a marker of exposure to hepatitis B, Anti HBcIgG was found to increase with age.

Prevalence of HBsAg and anti HCV Ab among patients with suspected acute viral hepatitis in baghdad, Iraq in 2010

“…The prevalence of those two types were studied in 2005 and it was found to be 1.7% and 0.4% respectively [11].…”

“…Recent surveys suggest a shift in the HBV endemicity patterns in most Southern Mediterranean countries from high endemicity towards intermediate or low endemicity patterns [11]. It has been found that up to 30% of the population are HBs Ag positive in Africa and East Asia as well as in some parts of South America [1].…”

Prevalence, Knowledge and Practices of Hepatitis B and C Viruses among Patients Undergoing Surgery in Sulaimani City

“…According to a study carried out in [2005][2006], Iraq is considered as a country of low endemicity for HBV and HCV because the prevalence of HBsAg was 1.6% and anti-HCV antibody was very low (0.4%) in general population [6]. In addition, another study reported that HBsAg prevalence in Iraq was found to have intermediate endemicity in year 2010; however it showed much higher probable HCV prevalence than hepatitis B amongst population [7].…”

Evaluation of Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women

“…These findings revealed that Iraq is a low prevalence with HBsAg and HCV. AntiHBc IgG was found to increase with age which indicated a marker of exposure to HBV [6].…”