Evaluation and Comparison of the Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients Admitted to Clinics at the “Mogadishu, Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital” in Somalia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate hepatitis B and hepatitis C serology findings and to determine the current prevalence of those who had applied to the Turkish hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Material and Method: The demographic findings and hepatitis test results (HBsAg, antiHBs antibody, and anti-HCV) of the patients were recorded retrospectively from their files. Results: A total of 152,266 patients, 75,903 (49.8%) male and 76,363 (50.2%) female, with a mean age of 34 (31/61) years, were included in our study. 1,278 (1.9%) of 67,749 patients who were tested for anti-HCV were found to be positive. 27,208 patients (32.2%) were found to have developed natural or vaccine immunity for HBV. It was found that those with anti-HCV (+) were generally older than 55 years and that those with HBsAg (+) were generally younger than 55 years [OR: 6.02 (5.28-6.87): 95%, CI]. Conclusion: In our study, it can be said that HBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalence (8.2% and 1.9%, respectively) in the Somalia population is still above desired levels. The fact that anti-Hbs antibody levels are at 32.2% underscores the importance of the development and popularization of vaccination programs.

Keywords

• hbv
• hcv
• seroprevalence
• somali
• hbv
• hcv
• seroprevalans
• somali