Prevalence of hepatitis B and C among female sex workers in Togo, West Africa

Bitty-Anderson, Alexandra M.; Ferré, Valentine Marie; Gbeasor-Komlanvi, Fifonsi Adjidossi; Tchankoni, Martin Kouame; Sadio, Arnold Junior; Salou, Mounérou; Descamps, Diane; Dagnra, Claver A.; Charpentier, Charlotte; Ekouévi, Didier K.; Coffie, Patrick A.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259891

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Gathering relevant data in some high endemicity countries, including countries in the WHO African, South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions is made more difficult due to criminalisation and/or stigmatisation of inclusion health populations for example CSW, PWID and LGBTQ+ communities. Depending on the sampling methods, available data suggest intermediate to high HBV prevalence in CSWs, PWID, and incarcerated people in African populations ( Bitty-Anderson et al, 2021 ; Degenhardt et al, 2017 ; Dolan et al, 2016 ; Scheibe et al, 2020 ). Fear of discrimination by healthcare workers, possible legal consequences and refusal of services are just some of the barriers deterring inclusion health populations from seeking care and remaining in longer term follow up ( Duby et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The forgotten people: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a priority for the inclusion health agenda

Martyn

Eisen

Longley

et al. 2023

eLife

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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a significant global health threat, accounting for 300 million chronic infections and up to 1 million deaths each year. HBV disproportionately affects people who are under-served by health systems due to social exclusion, and can further amplify inequities through its impact on physical and mental health, relationship with stigma and discrimination, and economic costs. The ‘inclusion health’ agenda focuses on excluded and vulnerable populations, who often experience barriers to accessing healthcare, and are under-represented by research, resources, interventions, advocacy, and policy. In this article, we assimilate evidence to establish HBV on the inclusion health agenda, and consider how this view can inform provision of better approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. We suggest approaches to redress the unmet need for HBV interventions among excluded populations as an imperative to progress the global goal for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The forgotten people: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a priority for the inclusion health agenda

Martyn

Eisen

Longley

et al. 2023

eLife

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“…frequency of unprotected sex [11,12]. Several studies have shown that low adherence to condom use, multiple sexual partners, unsafe sexual practices, illicit drug use, and co-infection with other STI increase the risk of HBV and HCV transmission [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B and C virus infections among female Sex workers in Ethiopia: Results of the national biobehavioral Survey, 2020

et al. 2022

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Background Hepatitis B and C virus infections are endemic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence of these infections in the world. Female sex workers are exposed to sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis B and C, because of their high-risk sexual behavior and limited access to health services. There are no large-scale data on the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in Ethiopia, a critical gap in information this study aimed to fill. Methods This was a cross-sectional, biobehavioral survey conducted from December 2019—April 2020 among 6085 female sex workers aged ≥15 years and residing in sixteen (16) regional capital cities and selected major towns of Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from the participants for hepatitis B and C virus serological testing. The data were collected using an open data kits (ODK) software and imported into STATA version16 for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and proportions) were used to summarize data on the study variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the strength of association between independent variables (risk factors) and the outcome (hepatitis B and C virus infection). Adjusted Odd ratio (AOR) was used to determine independent associations, 95% confidence interval to assess precision of the estimates, and a P value ≤ 0.05 to determine statistically significant. Results The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among the 6085 female sex workers was 2.6% [(95% CI (2.2,2.8)] and 0.5% [(95% CI (0.4,0.7)], respectively. Female sex workers who had 61–90 and ≥91 paying clients in the past six months [(AOR = 1.66; 95% CI, (0.99, 2.79); P = 0.054] and [(AOR = 1.66 95% CI, (1.11, 2.49); P = 0.013], respectively, age at first sex selling of 20–24 and >25 years [(AOR = 1.67; 95% CI, (1.14, 2.44); P = 0.009)] and [(AOR = 1.56; 95% CI (1.004, 2.43); P = 0.048)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR = 1.64; 95% CI (1.03, 2.62); P = 0.036] were significantly associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. Similarly, hepatitis C was significantly associated with, age at first sex ≤15 years and age 16–20 years [(AOR = 0.21; 95%CI (0.07,0.61); P = 0.005)] and [(AOR = 0.18; 95% CI (0.061, 0.53); P = 0.002)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR = 2.85; 95%CI (1.10,7.37); P = 0.031)] and testing positive for syphilis [(AOR = 4.38; 95% CI (1.73,11.11); P = 0.002)], respectively. Conclusion This analysis reveals an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B and a low prevalence of hepatitis C infection among female sex workers in Ethiopia. It also suggests that population groups like female sex workers are highly vulnerable to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a need for strengthening treatment and prevention interventions, including immunization services for hepatitis B vaccination, increasing HCV testing, and provision of treatment services.

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“…Several studies have shown that low adherence to condom use, multiple sexual partners, unsafe sexual practices, illicit drug use, and co-infection with other STI increase the risk of HBV and HCV transmission. FSW also have a higher risk of contracting STI from their non-paying partners than from their paying clients (10,11).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B and C virus infections among female Sex workers in Ethiopia: Results of the national biobehavioral Survey, 2020

Bedassa

Ebo

Ayalew

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundHepatitis B and C virus infections are endemic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence of these infections in the world. Female sex workers are exposed to sexually transmitted infections, including hepatitis B and C, because of their high-risk sexual behavior and limited access to health services. There is no data on national prevalence estimate on hepatitis B and C virus infections among female sex workers in Ethiopia, a critical gap in information this study aimed to fill.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, biobehavioral, national study conducted from December 2019 - April 2020 among 6085 commercial female sex workers aged ≥15 years and residing in sixteen (n=16) regional capital cities and selected towns of Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected for hepatitis B and C virus serological testing from the participants. The data were collected using an open data kits (ODK) software and imported into STATA version16 for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and proportions) were used to summarize data on the study variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the strength of association between independent variables (risk factors) and the outcome (hepatitis B and C virus infection). Adjusted Odd ratio (AOR) was used to determine independent associations, 95% confidence interval to assess precision of the estimates, and a P value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among the 6085 female sex workers was 2.6% [(95% CI (2.2,2.8)] and 0.5% [(95% CI (0.4,0.7)], respectively. Female sex workers who had 61-90 and ≥91 paying clients in the past six months [(AOR=1.66; 95% CI, (0.99, 2.79); P=0.054] and [(AOR=1.66 95% CI, (1.11, 2.49); P=0.013], respectively, age at first sex selling of 20-24 and >25 years [(AOR=1.67; 95% CI, (1.14, 2.44); P=0.009)] and [(AOR=1.56; 95% CI (1.004, 2.43); P=0.048)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR=1.64; 95% CI (1.03, 2.62); P=0.036] were significantly associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection. Similarly, hepatitis C was significantly associated with, age at first sex ≤15 years and age 16-20 years [(AOR=0.21; 95%CI (0.07,0.61); P=0.005)] and [(AOR=0.18; 95% CI (0.061, 0.53); P=0.002)], respectively, known HIV positive status [(AOR=2.85; 95%CI (1.10,7.37); P=0.031)] and testing positive for syphilis [(AOR=4.38; 95% CI (1.73,11.11); P=0.002)], respectively.ConclusionThis analysis reveals an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B and a low prevalence of hepatitis C infection among female sex workers in Ethiopia. It also suggests that population groups with like female sex workers are highly vulnerable to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a need for strengthening treatment and prevention interventions, including immunization services.

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Prevalence of hepatitis B and C among female sex workers in Togo, West Africa

Cited by 6 publications

References 30 publications

The forgotten people: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a priority for the inclusion health agenda

The forgotten people: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a priority for the inclusion health agenda

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B and C virus infections among female Sex workers in Ethiopia: Results of the national biobehavioral Survey, 2020

Prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B and C virus infections among female Sex workers in Ethiopia: Results of the national biobehavioral Survey, 2020

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