Scientific Reports (May 2024)

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among migrant workers in Qatar

  • Gheyath K. Nasrallah,
  • Hiam Chemaitelly,
  • Ahmed I. A. Ismail,
  • Parveen B. Nizamuddin,
  • Duaa W. Al-Sadeq,
  • Farah M. Shurrab,
  • Fathima H. Amanullah,
  • Tasneem H. Al-Hamad,
  • Khadija N. Mohammad,
  • Maryam A. Alabdulmalek,
  • Reham A. Al Kahlout,
  • Ibrahim Al-Shaar,
  • Manal A. Elshaikh,
  • Mazen N. Abouassali,
  • Ibrahim W. Karimeh,
  • Mutaz M. Ali,
  • Houssein H. Ayoub,
  • Sami Abdeen,
  • Ashraf Abdelkarim,
  • Faisal Daraan,
  • Ahmed Ibrahim Hashim Elhaj Ismail,
  • Nahid Mostafa,
  • Mohamed Sahl,
  • Jinan Suliman,
  • Elias Tayar,
  • Hasan Ali Kasem,
  • Meynard J. A. Agsalog,
  • Bassam K. Akkarathodiyil,
  • Ayat A. Alkhalaf,
  • Mohamed Morhaf M. H. Alakshar,
  • Abdulsalam Ali A. H. Al-Qahtani,
  • Monther H. A. Al-Shedifat,
  • Anas Ansari,
  • Ahmad Ali Ataalla,
  • Sandeep Chougule,
  • Abhilash K. K. V. Gopinathan,
  • Feroz J. Poolakundan,
  • Sanjay U. Ranbhise,
  • Saed M. A. Saefan,
  • Mohamed M. Thaivalappil,
  • Abubacker S. Thoyalil,
  • Inayath M. Umar,
  • Einas Al Kuwari,
  • Peter Coyle,
  • Andrew Jeremijenko,
  • Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal,
  • Hanan F. Abdul Rahim,
  • Hadi M. Yassine,
  • Asmaa A. Al Thani,
  • Odette Chaghoury,
  • Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari,
  • Elmoubasher Farag,
  • Roberto Bertollini,
  • Hamad Eid Al Romaihi,
  • Abdullatif Al Khal,
  • Mohamed H. Al-Thani,
  • Laith J. Abu-Raddad

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61725-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Limited data exist on viral hepatitis among migrant populations. This study investigated the prevalence of current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and lifetime hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Qatar's migrant craft and manual workers (CMWs), constituting 60% of the country's population. Sera collected during a nationwide COVID-19 population-based cross-sectional survey on CMWs between July 26 and September 9, 2020, underwent testing for HBsAg and HCV antibodies. Reactive samples underwent confirmatory testing, and logistic regression analyses were employed to explore associations with HBV and HCV infections. Among 2528 specimens tested for HBV infection, 15 were reactive, with 8 subsequently confirmed positive. Three samples lacked sufficient sera for confirmatory testing but were included in the analysis through multiple imputations. Prevalence of current HBV infection was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2–0.7%). Educational attainment and occupation were significantly associated with current HBV infection. For HCV infection, out of 2607 specimens tested, 46 were reactive, and 23 were subsequently confirmed positive. Prevalence of lifetime HCV infection was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5–1.2%). Egyptians exhibited the highest prevalence at 6.5% (95% CI 3.1–13.1%), followed by Pakistanis at 3.1% (95% CI 1.1–8.0%). Nationality, geographic location, and occupation were significantly associated with lifetime HCV infection. HBV infection is relatively low among CMWs, while HCV infection falls within the intermediate range, both compared to global and regional levels.

Keywords