Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Department of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Oct 1;115(10):1106-1113. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trab054.
There are no comprehensive data on viral hepatitis from Sierra Leone; however, a huge disease burden has been observed in different subpopulations. This review summarizes available data on hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) prevalence in Sierra Leone and identifies knowledge gaps. Despite the non-uniformity of the studies and the lack of systematic case recording, different reports published in recent decades yielded a hepatitis B prevalence of 8.7% among healthcare workers, 11.3% among pregnant women, 15.2% among blood donors and 16.7% in school-age children. The actual HBV prevalence in the general population was reported as 21.7%; similar to what was reported for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). HCV prevalence is 8% and 7% in male and female blood donors, respectively, 4.1% in PLHIV and 2.0% in school children. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C in Sierra Leone, despite the high burden reported in a few studies. There are limited programmatic interventions on the control and prevention of viral hepatitis in the country. Therefore, well-structured representative studies should provide a solid understanding of the true prevalence of hepatitis B and C to inform best possible public health measures in Sierra Leone.
塞拉利昂尚无关于病毒性肝炎的综合数据；然而，在不同人群中观察到了巨大的疾病负担。本综述总结了塞拉利昂乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎病毒（HBV 和 HCV）流行的现有数据，并确定了知识空白。尽管研究不一致且缺乏系统的病例记录，但近几十年来发表的不同报告显示，医护人员中乙型肝炎的流行率为 8.7%，孕妇中为 11.3%，献血者中为 15.2%，学龄儿童中为 16.7%。一般人群中的实际 HBV 流行率报告为 21.7%；与人类免疫缺陷病毒（PLHIV）患者的报告相似。HCV 在男性和女性献血者中的流行率分别为 8%和 7%，PLHIV 为 4.1%，学龄儿童为 2.0%。尽管少数研究报告了高负担，但塞拉利昂乙型和丙型病毒性肝炎的流行情况仍存在重大知识空白。该国在病毒性肝炎的控制和预防方面的方案干预措施有限。因此，应进行结构良好的代表性研究，以充分了解乙型和丙型肝炎的真实流行情况，为塞拉利昂提供最佳的公共卫生措施。
