Street adolescents in low income setting exposed to hepatitis B and C, and disadvantaged by lifestyle: a Togolese cross-sectional study.

Autor: Sadio AJ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, University of Lomé, Center for Training and Research in Public Health, Lomé, Togo. sadioarnold@gmail.com.; African Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo. sadioarnold@gmail.com.; Global Health in the Global South (Inserm UMR 1219, IRD EMR 271), Bordeaux Population Health, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. sadioarnold@gmail.com., Ferré VM; Service de Virologie, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat- Claude Bernard, Paris, F-75018, France., Adama OIW; African Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo., Kouanfack HR; African Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo., Dagnra AC; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Fundamental Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo.; Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology (BIOLIM), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo., Amenyah-Ehlan AP; Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology (BIOLIM), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo., Lawson-Ananissoh LM; Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo.; Hepatology and Gastroenterology Unit of the Campus Teaching Hospital of Lomé, Lomé, Togo., Descamps D; Service de Virologie, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat- Claude Bernard, Paris, F-75018, France., Charpentier C; Service de Virologie, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, IAME, UMR 1137, AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat- Claude Bernard, Paris, F-75018, France., Ekouevi DK; Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, University of Lomé, Center for Training and Research in Public Health, Lomé, Togo.; African Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CARESP), Lomé, Togo.; Global Health in the Global South (Inserm UMR 1219, IRD EMR 271), Bordeaux Population Health, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC public health [BMC Public Health] 2024 Jul 16; Vol. 24 (1), pp. 1901. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 16.
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19415-8
Abstrakt: Background: In Togo, few data are available on viral hepatitis in street adolescents, a vulnerable population due to their lifestyle. The aim of this study was to describe the lifestyle of street adolescents (sexual practices and drug use), to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses, and to describe their HBV immunization profile in Togo.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lomé (Togo) in July 2021. Street adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years were included. A questionnaire was used to document lifestyle. ELISA tests were performed for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B core and surface antibodies (anti-HBc, anti-HBs), and antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV).
Results: A total of 299 adolescents (5.4% female) with a median age of 15 years (IQR: 14-17) were included. Of these, 70.6% (211/299) were sexually active and 70.6% (149/211) had not used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. Drug use was reported by 42.1% of the adolescents. The most used substances were cannabis (39.0%), cocaine (36.6%), glue solvents (19.5%), and tramadol (11.4%). However, cocaine use may have been overestimated due to information bias. Current HBV infection (HBsAg+) was detected in 3.7% (95%CI: 1.9-6.5) of the adolescents. Isolated anti-HBc + was present in 5.3%. All three HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc) were negative in 71.6% of adolescents. Anti-HCV was detected in 4.7% of adolescents.
Conclusion: Nearly one in 10 street adolescents has markers for HBV contact/current infection, and approximately 72% of street adolescents may still be infected with HBV, as they have no HBV markers. HCV is also circulating in this population. Given the reported high-risk sexual practices and high levels of drug use, there is an urgent need to develop integrated strategies to prevent infections, including HBV, and drug dependence in this population.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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