Progress on the elimination of viral hepatitis in Zimbabwe: A review of the policies, strategies and challenges

Dzingirai, Blessing; Katsidzira, Leolin; Matyanga, Celia Moffat Joel; Postma, Maarten; Hulst, Marinus van; Mafirakureva, Nyashadzaishe

doi:10.1111/jvh.13510

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…We recorded a seroprevalence of 5.8% of HBsAg in Cameroon among a population of 1,992 pregnant women in seven health facilities, while the rate was 2.7% in Harare in Zimbabwe among 1,200 pregnant women. The prevalence in Cameroon differs from 6.4% stated by Torimiro et (11,29). It is worth noting that the similarities and differences in HBV infection rates between the different MICHep B Network member countries such as have been reported in Chad (12% in the general population vs. 13% among pregnant women), Gabon (10.3% in the general population vs. 9.2% in pregnant women), and Central African Republic (12.6% in the general population vs. 8.2% in pregnant women) (8, [11][12][13]30).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Toward the elimination of hepatitis B: networking to promote the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus through population-based interventions and multidisciplinary groups in Africa

Torimiro,

Duri,

Goumkwa

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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The WHO African Region had 81 million people with chronic hepatitis B in 2019, which remains a silent killer. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and HIV can be transmitted from the mother to child. If the HBV infection is acquired at infancy, it may lead to chronic hepatitis B in 90% of the cases. WHO reports that 6.4 million children under 5 years live with chronic hepatitis B infection worldwide. The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HBV is therefore critical in the global elimination strategy of viral hepatitis as we take lessons from PMTCT of HIV programs in Africa. We sought to create a network of multidisciplinary professional and civil society volunteers with the vision to promote cost-effective, country-driven initiatives to prevent the MTCT of HBV in Africa. In 2018, the Mother–Infant Cohort Hepatitis B Network (MICHep B Network) with members from Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom and later from Chad, Gabon, and Central African Republic was created. The long-term objectives of the network are to organize capacity-building and networking workshops, create awareness among pregnant women, their partners, and the community, promote the operational research on MTCT of HBV, and extend the network activities to other African countries. The Network organized in Cameroon, two “Knowledge, Attitude and Practice” (KAP) surveys, one in-depth interview of 45 health care workers which revealed a high acceptability of the hepatitis B vaccine by families, two in-person workshops in 2018 and 2019, and one virtual in 2021 with over 190 participants, as well as two workshops on grant writing, bioethics, and biostatistics of 30 postgraduate students. Two HBV seroprevalence studies in pregnant women were conducted in Cameroon and Zimbabwe, in which a prevalence of 5.8% and 2.7%, respectively, was reported. The results and recommendations from the MICHep B Network activities could be implemented in countries of the MICHep B Network and beyond, with the goal of providing free birth dose vaccine against hepatitis B in Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Toward the elimination of hepatitis B: networking to promote the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus through population-based interventions and multidisciplinary groups in Africa

Torimiro,

Duri,

Goumkwa

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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“…Still, scaled up screening, care, and treatment services for HBV infection, particularly among MSM and TGW/GQ living with HIV, could be beneficial to further slow HBV transmission. There is a critical need to expand HBV screening and testing services in Zimbabwe overall [ 14 ], and these results underscore that need, especially to reach individuals coinfected with HIV-HBV. Finally, results from our survey could provide valuable information to the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care as they develop future national guidelines and implementation plans for preventing and eliminating HBV nationally and among key populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is little epidemiological data on HBV infections in Zimbabwe due to a lack of systemic screening and treatment for HBV infection, and limited HBV surveillance in the country [ 14 ]. Our survey aims to help fill this epidemiological data gap by describing the prevalence of HBV infection and HIV-HBV coinfection among a large sample of MSM and TGW/GQ using data from a biobehavioral survey (BBS) conducted in Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) and HIV-HBV coinfection among men who have sex with men, transgender women, and genderqueer individuals in Harare and Bulawayo Zimbabwe, 2019

Breen,

Parmley,

Mapingure

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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“…This approach is important for determining the level of engagement required to build consensus and political will for HTA (30). The key stakeholders that drive political will for HTA introduction in Zimbabwe's healthcare system are the Parliament and MOHCC because they are responsible for enacting and implementing the legislation, respectively (24). Additionally, it is important to involve academic institutions and professionals in the formative stages of HTA institutionalization (31).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also reviewed the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2021-2025 and the Zimbabwe Health Financing Strategy (HFS) 2017 documents (1;14). The selection of the documents was informed by previous research that explored health policy documents in Zimbabwe (24).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A situational and stakeholder analysis of health technology assessment in Zimbabwe

Dzingirai,

Dambiko,

Matyanga

et al. 2024

Int J Technol Assess Health Care

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Objectives: Systematic priority setting is necessary for achieving high-quality healthcare using limited resources in low-and middle-income countries. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a tool that can be used for systematic priority setting. The objective of this study was to conduct a stakeholder and situational analysis of HTA in Zimbabwe. Methods: We identified and analyzed stakeholders using the International Decision Support Initiative checklist. The identified stakeholders were invited to an HTA workshop convened at the University of Zimbabwe. We used an existing HTA situational analysis questionnaire to ask for participants' views on the need, demand, and supply of HTA. A follow-up survey was done among representatives of stakeholder organizations that failed to attend the workshop. We reviewed two health policy documents relevant to the HTA. Qualitative data from the survey and document review were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Forty-eight organizations were identified as stakeholders for HTA in Zimbabwe. A total of 41 respondents from these stakeholder organizations participated in the survey. Respondents highlighted that the HTA was needed for transparent decision making. The demand for HTArelated evidence was high except for the health economic and ethics dimensions, perhaps reflecting a lack of awareness. Ministry of Health was listed as a major supplier of HTA data. Conclusions: There is no formal HTA agency in the Zimbabwe healthcare system. Various institutions make decisions on prioritization, procurement, and coverage of health services. The activities undertaken by these organizations provide context for the institutionalization of HTA in Zimbabwe.

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Progress on the elimination of viral hepatitis in Zimbabwe: A review of the policies, strategies and challenges

Cited by 6 publications

References 34 publications

Toward the elimination of hepatitis B: networking to promote the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus through population-based interventions and multidisciplinary groups in Africa

Toward the elimination of hepatitis B: networking to promote the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus through population-based interventions and multidisciplinary groups in Africa

Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) and HIV-HBV coinfection among men who have sex with men, transgender women, and genderqueer individuals in Harare and Bulawayo Zimbabwe, 2019

A situational and stakeholder analysis of health technology assessment in Zimbabwe

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