Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Among the General Population in Sub-Saharan Africa-An Analysis of Systematic Review Data

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Among the General Population in Sub-Saharan Africa-An Analysis of Systematic Review Data

AU - Kassa, Getahun Molla

AU - Lim, Aaron G

AU - Tamiru, Melaku Tileku

AU - Alamneh, Tesfa Sewunet

AU - Vickerman, Peter

AU - Dagne, Emebet

AU - Mulu, Andargachew

AU - Baissa, Obsie

AU - Paltiel, Ora

AU - Dillon, John F

AU - Yesuf, Elias Ali

AU - Hickman, Matthew

AU - Walker, Josephine G.

AU - French, Clare E.

N1 - © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Viral Hepatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - Understanding risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is critical for targeting screening and prevention. We systematically reviewed risk factors associated with HCV seroprevalence among the general population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Comprehensive systematic review of HCV seroprevalence of community-based observational studies reporting HCV risk factors in SSA. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Random effect meta-analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We identified 92 studies. Higher odds of HCV seroprevalence were observed among age 21-64 (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.17-2.68) and 65+ groups (OR = 11.75, 95% CI 5.51-25.05) compared to those aged ≤ 20 years; not being formally educated (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.35-2.35) compared to secondary/above and being married (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.45-2.51) or divorced (OR = 3.20, 95% CI 1.91-5.36) compared to never married. Family history of HCV (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.17-1.96), being a person living with HIV (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.61-4.33) or being HBsAg positive (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.10-2.50) were all positively associated with increased HCV seroprevalence, as was having a history of blood transfusion (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.33-2.45), hospitalisation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.22-1.96), medical operation (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.62), scarification (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.64) and injection drug use (OR = 7.04, 95% CI 1.16-42.68). Pilot HCV screening programmes targeting older adults and people exposed to healthcare-associated factors could potentially lead to the efficient detection of HCV cases and reduce future HCV exposures among the general population in SSA countries.

AB - Understanding risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is critical for targeting screening and prevention. We systematically reviewed risk factors associated with HCV seroprevalence among the general population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Comprehensive systematic review of HCV seroprevalence of community-based observational studies reporting HCV risk factors in SSA. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Random effect meta-analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We identified 92 studies. Higher odds of HCV seroprevalence were observed among age 21-64 (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.17-2.68) and 65+ groups (OR = 11.75, 95% CI 5.51-25.05) compared to those aged ≤ 20 years; not being formally educated (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.35-2.35) compared to secondary/above and being married (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.45-2.51) or divorced (OR = 3.20, 95% CI 1.91-5.36) compared to never married. Family history of HCV (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.17-1.96), being a person living with HIV (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.61-4.33) or being HBsAg positive (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.10-2.50) were all positively associated with increased HCV seroprevalence, as was having a history of blood transfusion (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.33-2.45), hospitalisation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.22-1.96), medical operation (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.62), scarification (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.64) and injection drug use (OR = 7.04, 95% CI 1.16-42.68). Pilot HCV screening programmes targeting older adults and people exposed to healthcare-associated factors could potentially lead to the efficient detection of HCV cases and reduce future HCV exposures among the general population in SSA countries.

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Young Adult

KW - Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology

KW - Hepacivirus/immunology

KW - Hepatitis C/epidemiology

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies

KW - Systematic Reviews as Topic

KW - risk factors

KW - hepatitis C

KW - meta-analysis

KW - general population

KW - sub-Saharan Africa

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015016967

U2 - 10.1111/jvh.70065

DO - 10.1111/jvh.70065

M3 - Article

C2 - 40888503

SN - 1352-0504

VL - 32

JO - Journal of Viral Hepatitis

JF - Journal of Viral Hepatitis

IS - 10

M1 - e70065

ER -