P-20 HIGH PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B IN ACHE COMMUNITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CANINDEYU-PARAGUAY

Abstract

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: Hepatitis B is a disease that can lead to cirrhosis, acute liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, or death. Paraguay is considered a country with a low incidence of hepatitis B. The discovery of two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B, in a community of the Aché indigenous group in the Department of Canindeyú, motivated an initial investigation that aroused the suspicion of a high rate of hepatitis B in those communities. Objectives: Determine the prevalence of hepatitis B in the Aché communities of the department of Canindeyú-Paraguay in order to program therapeutic and preventive measures in said population. Patients / Materials and Methods: A joint working group was organized between the Ministry of Health and a Medical University. The population studied were the inhabitants of the “Kué Tuvy” and “Chupa Pou” communities, of the Aché ethnic group in the department of Canindeyú, Paraguay. In November 2022 and March 2023, a total of 399 natives attended the call made by community leaders and were subjected to capillary blood detection tests for HBsAg. In patients with a positive test, the following were performed: clinical history, physical examination, anthropometry, and abdominal ultrasound. Results and Discussion: In the first community of 226 people tested, 17 were positive. In the second community, 173 samples were taken and 19 were positive. Globally it represents a prevalence of 9.02% (36/399). The positive cases for HBsAg were distributed by sex: 53% men and 47% women, with an age range of 21 to 56 years with a median of 38 years. Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis B in Aché communities in Paraguay is much higher than in the general population, so it is necessary to carry out a microelimination and prevention plan.