Prevalence of "anti-HBc alone" among Syrian blood donors

Muselmani, W.; Habbal, Wafa; Monem, Fawza

doi:10.3855/jidc.3827

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The prevalence of hepatitis B is 1.7% and the prevalence of hepatitis C is 0.4% in Syrian refugees. While these results are very similar to the results of the studies on blood donors in Syria, they are found to be lower than the 4.2% HBsAg seropositivity and 1.0% anti-HCV seropositivity values determined by [25,26] Koruk et al in their study in the city center of Şanlıurfa in 2008 [14]. The rate of Anti-HBs positivity is 9.4% in blood donors in Syria and 25.2% in Syrian refugees.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The rate of Anti-HBs positivity is 9.4% in blood donors in Syria and 25.2% in Syrian refugees. The rate of Anti-HBc positivity is 10.3% in blood donors in Syria and 23.9% in Syrian refugees [25,26]. Syrian refugees have low levels of hepatitis B and C. However, when compared with the donor studies in Syria, they can be said to have encountered more Hepatitis B infections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Syrian Refugees at Risk of Hepatitis Diseases in Turkey, in Şanliurfa?

Keklik¹,

Koruk²,

Allahverdi³

2019

SJM

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Aim:The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B/C diseases among Syrian refugees living outside the temporary accommodation centers in Şanlıurfa city center, and individuals' levels of knowledge and risky behaviors related to these diseases. Methods: The research is cross-sectional. It was carried out with 473 Syrian refugees who were living in Şanlıurfa city center outside the temporary accommodation centers in April 2015 -2016. Cluster sampling method was preferred in the selection of the sample. The questionnaire form, which was prepared by the researchers, was applied, and a venous blood sample was collected from the individuals during data collection. HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc total and Anti-HCV levels of the blood samples were examined. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in the evaluation of the data. Statistical analyses were performed at 95% confidence level. p<0.05 value was accepted as statistically significant. Results: Of the Syrians, 62.2% were women and 37.8% men, with a median age of 34.0. 25.6% of participants had never attended school, and 82.2% of them were married. 57.3% of asylum seekers were Arabian, and 41.9% were Kurdish. 80.1% of them didn't know enough Turkish to communicate. Participants' average monthly income was 171$. An average of 8.6 individuals was living in the household, and the individual/room rate was 3.2. 60.3% of Syrian refugees had not heard of hepatitis B disease, and 69.1% of them had not heard of hepatitis C disease. Only 2.3% (n=11) of the individuals correctly answered all the questions about the transmission and prevention of hepatitis B/C diseases. 1.7% of Syrian refugees were HBsAg positive, 23.9% were Anti-HBc total positive, and 0.4% of them were Anti-HCV positive. 25.2% of Syrian refugees were anti-HBS positive, while 7.1% were immunized with the hepatitis B vaccine. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of HBsAg and Anti-HCV antibody status of Syrian refugees according to socio-demographic characteristics and risky behaviors used in this study (p>0.05). Anti-HBc total antibody positivity was higher in males, in those over 50 years of age, in those who had never attended school and in those who had married at least once (p<0.05). Anti-HBc total positivity was higher in women, especially in those who had given birth at least once (p<0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis B/C in Syrian refugees was lower than in Turkey. This suggests that Syrian refugees are at more risk than individuals in our country. Low immunization rates also support this situation. It is believed that the risk of transmission of hepatitis B/C diseases can be reduced by giving information about the transmission and prevention ways of hepatitis B/C diseases to individuals at marriage age, by screening the group at risk and immunizing them against hepatitis B, increasing the rate of condom use in case of risky sexual intercourse, increasing education level, regular antenatal care of pregnant women...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syrian Refugees at Risk of Hepatitis Diseases in Turkey, in Şanliurfa?

Keklik¹,

Koruk²,

Allahverdi³

2019

SJM

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“…31 In addition to limited healthcare access, poor living conditions, lack of general education and awareness about HBV, inadequate preventive measures, and insufficient HBV immunity in the general population contribute to the prevalence of HBV in these areas. 17,32,33 Furthermore, war-related sexual assaults threaten the health of women and children as the most vulnerable subgroups. Often, victims of violence do not report such incidents, increasing the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases, like HBV, and subsequent clinical complications.…”

Section: Hbv-related Demographic Variables In Origin and Destination mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass migration to Europe: an opportunity for elimination of hepatitis B virus?

Thijssen

Lemey

Amini-Bavil-Olyaee

et al. 2019

The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

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People from low-to-middle income countries have been migrating to western Europe on a large scale in recent years. Data indicate that the number of first-time asylum applications by non-EU members increased from 290 000 in 2011 to more than 1•3 million in 2015. During the peak period of migration, The Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis was adopted by WHO. Viral hepatitis, and particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV), is an important disease because of its high prevalence and associated mortality. In some cases, HBV can be carried by refugees arriving from regions of high and intermediate prevalence. Refugees with HBV might not show clinical symptoms and not be diagnosed in destination countries with a low prevalence, where screening is not regularly done. Although transmission to the host population is low, dedicated surveillance and tailored public health policies are required. It is important to note that some of the countries that receive many migrants do not have a universal HBV vaccination programme. In this Viewpoint, we argue that the current large-scale movement from regions with high or intermediate HBV prevalence should be taken as an opportunity to achieve viral hepatitis elimination targets, by establishing a well prepared infrastructure for HBV screening, vaccination, and treatment.

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“…In einer Studie von syrischen Blutspendern wiesen 1,6 % dieses Profil auf. In diesen Patienten konnte bei 8 % in der PCR HBV nachgewiesen werden [19].…”

Section: Diskussionunclassified