Epidemiology and Prevalence of HBsAg in the Student Population of the Higher Institute of Technology of Mamou, Republic of Guinea
Alpha Arsida Barry *
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea and Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, BP: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
Mamadou Lamarana Souare
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
Taliby Dos Camara
Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, BP: 1147, Republic of Guinea.
Oumar Keita
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
Oumar Faye
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
Siba Sagno
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
Tamadjan Koulibaly
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
Magan Camara
Biology Laboratory, Laboratory Techniques Department, Higher Institute Technology Mamou (IST-Mamou), Republic of Guinea.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Due to its frequency, complications and socio-economic consequences, hepatitis B constitutes an international public health problem comparable to that posed by other communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Sub-Saharan Africa, with a prevalence rate between 8 and 18%, is a highly endemic region.
Objective: To help protect the health of students through awareness and screening for the hepatitis B virus.
Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive longitudinal study which lasted one month, from February 15 to March 15, 2023.
Results: Among the 200 students screened for the hepatitis B virus, men were more represented (80.50%) than women (19.50%), with a m/f sex ratio of 4.12 in favor of men. The 17-25 age group was the largest (77%), followed by the 26-33 age group (19.5%), the 34-41 age group (3%) and the 42+ age group (0.5%). 32% of students say they have good knowledge of the hepatitis B virus, compared to 68% who say they have little knowledge. The majority reported television as a source (75.5%), followed by radio (16%), school (4%), newspapers (2.5%) and social media (2%). The vast majority identified sexual transmission (89%), followed by blood (9.5%) and saliva (1.5%). In terms of risky practices, the majority of students identify prostitution (82.5%), followed by tattooing (9%), piercing (5%) and acupuncture (3.5%). Concerning knowledge of the hepatitis B vaccine, the majority of students (67.5%) say they do not know the vaccine against the hepatitis B virus, compared to 32.5% who say they know the vaccine. The HBV prevalence test showed 11% carriage compared to 89% negative tests. Transaminase tests on positive cases gave 63.63% normal ALT versus 36.36% elevated ALT; 72.72% normal AST versus 27.27% high AST. Carriage was higher in men (86.36%) than in women (13.63%). Single students were the most represented with 95.45%, compared to 4.55% for married students. Students from the Technical Laboratory and Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Departments were the most represented with 27.27% each. They were followed by those of the Biomedical Equipment Technology and Computer Engineering Departments with 18.18% each. Finally, the Energy Department was the least represented in this series with 9.09%.
Conclusion: This study showed that the hepatitis B virus is present at the Mamou Higher Institute of Technology. It is therefore important to introduce it into secondary school programs to improve knowledge of the hepatitis B virus in Guinea.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, knowledge, epidemiology, students, department
How to Cite
Downloads
References
WHO. Global health sector strategy for viral hepatitis; 2016–2021.
Konaté anselme: Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Africa. CHU Gabriel Touré, Bamako, Mali; 2012.
Available:http://hepatoweb.com/hepatite-B-grossesse.php [Online].[Consulted 12/12/2020 at 2:30 p.m.]
Available: https://www.who.int/media centre/factsheets/fs204/fr/ .2017 ‹‹ WHO Report | hepatitis B ››, WHO. [Online]. [Consulted March 25, 2019].
Meffre C, Le Stratt Y, et al. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in France in 2004, National Health Monitoring Institute; 2004.
Available:https://journals.openedition.org.›.[Accessed March 26, 2019] Humanitarian; hepatitis B in Africa a forgotten epidemic. [Online].
Christiane A. Technological activity in hematology and immunology, Aquitaine; 2004.
Jemni L, Chatti N. Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Tunisia. Maghreb Med. 1994; 278:15-18.
Bougoudogo F, Diarra S, Traoré S, et al. Report on the seroprevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in Mali; 2001.
Sombo MF, Seka SJ, Cabannes R. Prevalence of HBs and anti-HBs markers of hepatitis B virus in the Ivorian population. Pub Med Afr. 1987;85:43-49.
Lô BB. Hepatitis B virus infection: a serious public health problem in Mauritania. Med Afr Noire 1994;41(7):444-449.4. Annual report of the National Blood Transfusion Center of Mali; 2009. Available:www.sante.gov.ml.
Marie-Jeanne Lohouès-Kouacou, Constant Assi, Amadou Ouattara, Sax Gohean Bonao, Siaka Koné, Dramane Soro, Emilie Allah-Kouadio, Anassi Jean-Baptiste Okon, Mamadou Diakité, Stanislas Doffou, Luc Nigué, Benoît-Mathieu Camara: Knowledge of viral hepatitis B among secondary school students in Côte d'Ivoire. Public Health. 2013;2(25):227-232.
Thaver AM, Kamal A. Impact of information sources on the knowledge of adolescents about Hepatitis B. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. 2010;60:1072-1075.
Slonim AB, Roberto AJ, Downing CR, Adams IF, Fasano NJ, Davis-Satterla L, et al. Adolescents’ knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding hepatitis B: Insights and implications for programs targeting vaccine-preventable diseases. J Adolesc Health. 2005;36(3):178-86.
Hwang JP, Huang CH, Yi JK. Knowledge about hepatitis B and predictors of hepatitis B vaccination among Vietnamese American college students. J Am Coll Health. 2008;56(4):377-82
Lindsay J, Smith AM, Rosenthal DA. Uncertain knowledge: A national survey of high school students’ knowledge and beliefs about hepatitis C. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1999;23(2):135-9.
Wiecha JM. Differences in knowledge of hepatitis B among Vietnamese, African American, Hispanic, and White adolescents in Worcester, Massachusetts. Pediatrics. 1999;104(5):1212-6.
Badr HH, Mounir GM, Mahdy NH. Measurement of KAP concerning hepatitis B among secondary school students in Alexandria. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 1999;74(3-4):407-37.
Cui FQ, Miao N, Hu YS. Effect of hepatitis health promotion project in schools of Beijing and Gansu. Zhongguo Yi Miao He Mian Yi. 2009;15(5):409-16.
Hinds A, Cameron JC. Acceptability of universal hepatitis B vaccination among school pupils and parents. Common Dis Public Health. 2004;7(4):278-82.
DEMBELE Rachelle: Epidemiological and serological profile of the hepatitis B virus in an urban environment in Bamako. University of Bamako; 2011.
Jemni L, Chatti N. Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Tunisia. Maghreb Med. 1994; 278:15-18.
Bougoudogo F, Diarra S, Traore S, Niangaly A. Report on the prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in Mali. 200;1-35.
Sombo MF, Seka SJ, Cabannes R. Prevalence of HBs and anti-HBs markers of hepatitis B virus in the Ivorian population. Pub Med Afr. 1987;85:43-49.
Lô BB. Hepatitis B virus infection: a serious public health problem in Mauritania. Med Afr Noire 1994;41(7):444-449.
Dembele N. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among schoolchildren aged 15 to 25 in Bamako, Koulikoro, Sikasso. Thesis, pharm, Bamako. 2006;41.