Hepatitis A Antibody Seroprevalence in a Selected Kenyan Pediatric Population

Abstract

The incidence of infection by Hepatitis A virus shows regional variation being highest in developing countries. Determination of age specific Hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence and the associated risk factors would help better plan for national preventive strategies including vaccination. We carried out a cross-sectional study on 300 children from Nairobi city, Kenya during the years [2003][2004]. The age range of the children was 2 -14 years and were from low and high socioeconomic status (SES) families. The indicators of SES included employment status, residence, number of children per patient's household, parents' level of education and source of drinking water. SES was encoded and analysed using Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SSPS) version 16.0. Seroprevalence increased significantly with advancing age. Seropositivity of HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low SES, 77.6% by the age of 14 years compared to children of high SES, 38.9% by the same age. Crowded household and parental education were significantly associated with high seropositivity and seronegativity respectively. There is significant rate of seronegativity amongst the studied population especially those from richer backgrounds making them more susceptible to severe infection in future with concomitant complications. We propose that revision of national vaccination program should be considered to include Hepatitis A vaccination.

Clinical characteristics of acute liver failure associated with hepatitis A infection in children in Mogadishu, Somalia: a hospital-based retrospective study

“…While comparing to countries the prevalence of hepatitis A is similar to those reported from Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) such as Palestine 93.7% in school children [ 15 ] and Syria 95% in the 11–15 years old children [ 16 ] and sub-Saharan region such as South Africa 90% [ 3 ]. But markedly different from Kenya 44.5% and Nigeria 55.2% in the pediatric population [ 17 , 18 ]. Previously studies proposed that hepatitis A was highly prevalent in the region.…”

Prevalence of hepatitis A virus in patients attending a referral hospital in Bubanza Province, Northwest Burundi

“…On the contrary, developed countries are characterized by low antibody seroprevalence of HAV during childhood. 7 The type of toilet used in households influences HAV infection. 17 A high proportion of those sero-positives for HAV was obtained from subjects with traditional toilets (pit) at home (62.2%) compared to those obtained from participants with modern toilets at home for human waste disposal (46.9%).…”

“…5 The virus' transmission is facilitated by water and/or food as well as person-to-person contact in developed countries and the endemicity is worldwide. 6,7 There is considerable variation in the rates of seroprevalence by region, country and intra-country with marked fluctuations from time to time but in general, the underdeveloped countries bear the greatest disease burden amongst children. Coincidentally, these infections are mild to asymptomatic and most of the children attain immunity by the time they reach adolescence.…”

“…9 In developed countries, HAV seroprevalence is low. 7 In Burundi, no study has been carried out to document the significance of hepatitis A and little is known about the prevalence of HAV. Although HAV infection can easily and effectively be mitigated through vaccination, this has not been fully implemented and included in national vaccination program of many countries including Burundi.…”

“…Although HAV infection can easily and effectively be mitigated through vaccination, this has not been fully implemented and included in national vaccination program of many countries including Burundi. 7 This study aimed at determining the HAV seroprevalence and its association with sociodemographic factors which would better understand the magnitude and help better plan for national preventive strategies including vaccination.…”