Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Viral Infection in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis C virus is a highly genetically heterogenous bloodborne pathogen that is responsible for acute and chronic hepatitis. Globally, an estimated 71 million population is chronically infected with this virus from which 399,000 people die every year. Its prevalence is high in Ethiopia and varies from region to region, even among different studies within a region. Methods. Electronic databases, including Science Direct, Medline, HINARI, African Journals Online, TRIP database, African Index Medicus, and Directory of Open Access Journals, searched from 2010 to 2020 and published articles were included. Due to evidence of considerable heterogeneity, the pooled prevalence of anti-HCV was analyzed using the random-effects model. The possible sources of heterogeneity were analyzed through subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression. Funnel plots and Egger’s test statistics were used to determine the presence of publication bias. Results. The analysis of 56 articles showed that the prevalence of anti-HCV in Ethiopia ranged from 0% to 22%. The pooled prevalence estimated was 2% (95% CI 2.0–3.0), and the meta-regression statistics indicated that the diagnostic method p = 0.037 , study group p = 0.005 , and level of bias p = 0.035 showed statistically significant association with the outcome variable. The sensitivity analysis claims no influence on the overall effect estimate while removing a single study from the analysis at a time. Egger’s test statistics p ≤ 0.001 declare the presence of publication bias that is handled using time and fill analysis. Conclusions. The pooled prevalence of anti-HCV in Ethiopia was high. Predictor variables, including the diagnostic method, study group, and level of bias, showed a statistically significant relationship with the outcome variable. Strengthening the scope of existing prevention and control programs and implementing novel approaches, including screen-and-treat, could significantly help to tackle this critical public health issue. The study provides a current estimate which is valuable for policymakers and other responsible bodies.

Undiagnosed Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections in the Community of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…Overall anti-HCV seroprevalence was 1.9% (95% CI: 0.9%, 3.0%), which is considered low endemicity by WHO. 22 , 23 The results were consistent with the results of the previous studies conducted on the general population in the South Omo Zone, 1.9%, 20 the recent pooled national prevalence of 2%, 34 the 2% prevalence reported from Gambella, Ethiopia 18 and 1.4% among community members in southern Ethiopia 19 However, the seroprevalence was less than that of 3.1% of the previous national pooled prevalence, 17 4.3% in previous studies reported from Northwest Ethiopia, 35 3.0% prevalence found in sub-Saharan Africa, 36 , 37 3.4% Africa, 4.8% Somalia, 6.2% Pakistan, 6.5% Cameron, and 11.9% Egypt. 38–42 On the contrary, it is greater than the 1.0% prevalence reported in Gojjam, Ethiopia; 28 0.64% prevalence reported in Nekemite, Ethiopia, 43 0.4% in Iraq, 44 0.3% in Djibouti, 0.9% in Somalia, and 1.0% in Sudan 36 among the general populations.…”

Evidence of Hiv/HCV Coinfection Among People Living With Hiv/Aids Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria

“…Contrarily, the rate of HIV/HCV coinfection in this study is higher than that of studies done in Ethiopia, which revealed a 1.3% rate (Balew et al, 2014). This 4.0% is also higher than the 0.5% for HIV/HCV coinfection among HIV-infected and HIV-naive children in Lagos (Lawal et al, 2020), the 1.7% in Northcentral, Nigeria (Durowaye et al, 2014), the 1.5% in the USA (Schuval et al, 2004), 1.0% was recorded by Aaron et al (2021) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the 0.16% prevalence in the southeast of Nigeria (Ikeako et al (2014), 0.5% in Anyigba (Omatola et al, 2019), 0.7% in the southeast (Diwe et al, 2013), 0.8% in Abuja (Agboghoroma & Ukaire, 2020), 0.8% in Osogbo (Oluremi et al (2021), 0.9% reported by Onyekwere and Hameed (2015) and 2.0% in Ethiopia (Deress et al, 2021).…”

“…In a large group of children who were perinatally HIV-positive and were part of a long-term follow-up program, the prevalence of HCV infection in the United States was 1.5%, compared to a rate of 9.6% in China (Schuval et al, 2004; Zhou et al, 2010; Lawal et al, 2020). However, several African nations, such as Tanzania, where a prevalence of 13.8% has been recorded, and Ethiopia, where the prevalence of anti-HCV ranged from 0.0% to 22.0%, have seen a higher incidence of this coinfection (Deress et al, 2021) On the other side, Cote d’ Ivoire in West Africa recorded a prevalence rate of 0.0% (Telatela et al, 2007; Rouet et al, 2008; Riou et al, 2016; Lawal et al, 2020) and in Ivory Coast and Kenya (Puoti et al, 2008; Rouet et al, 2008). Similarly, studies in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and East Africa found 0.0% prevalence rates for HIV/HCV coinfection (Chakraborty et al, 2003; Okonko et al, 2014; Lawal et al, 2020; Cookey et al, 2021).…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection in patients attending tertiary care hospital of southern Haryana, India

“…According to the findings of a number of research, the Hepatitis C Virus is most prevalent in parts of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. 12 It has been shown that the prevalence of HCV in Europe ranges anywhere from 0.1 to 6%. 20 There has been a recent rise in the incidence of HCV infection in India.…”

“…The Hepatitis C virus has an infectious potential that is four times higher than that of the human immunodeficiency virus. 12 The Hepatitis C Virus is the most common cause of chronic liver illness in people who are receiving hemodialysis. 13 When compared to those in other occupations, the prevalence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus in those working in healthcare is three times greater.…”