Prevalence of hepatitis B and C among female sex workers in Togo, West Africa

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 12; p. e0259891
• Main Authors: Bitty-Anderson, Alexandra M, Ferré, Valentine, Gbeasor-Komlanvi, Fifonsi A, Tchankoni, Martin Kouame, Sadio, Arnold, Salou, Mounerou, Descamps, Diane, Dagnra, Claver A, Charpentier, Charlotte, Ekouevi, Didier K, Coffie, Patrick A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 10.12.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol use; Bernard, Claude (1813-1878); Biological analysis; Biology and life sciences; Care and treatment; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Epidemics; Female; Geography; Global health; Health aspects; Health care access; Health risks; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Life Sciences; Medical research; Medicine and health sciences; Middle Aged; Pandemics; People and Places; Population; Prevalence; Prostitutes; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression models; Risk factors; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Sex industry; Sex Workers - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social aspects; STD; Togo; Togo; Africa; Lomé, Togo; France; West Africa; Rwanda; Paris France
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259891

Hepatitis B and C are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, with prevalence among the highest in the World. However, several challenges impede the progression towards the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030 as suggested by the World Health Organization Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, including the lack of knowledge on the scale of this epidemic in the region. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among female sex workers (FSW) in Togo. This ancillary study from a national cross-sectional bio-behavioral study was conducted in 2017 using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method, in eight towns of Togo among FSW. Socio-demographic, behavioral and sexual characteristics were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for HIV, hepatitis B and C serological testing. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and a logistic regression model. Out of the 1,036 FSW recruited for this study, biological analyses for viral hepatitis were completed for 769 of them. The median age was 26 years [IQR: 22-33] and 49.8% (n = 383) had attained secondary school. The prevalence of hepatitis B was 9.9% [95% CI: (7.9-12.2)] and the prevalence of hepatitis C was 5.3% [95% CI: (3.9-7.2)]. Higher hepatitis B and C prevalence was associated with recruitment out of Lomé (aOR: 6.63; 95%CI: 3.51-13.40, p <0.001 and OR: 2.82; 95% CI: [1.37-5.99]; p<0.001, respectively) and, for hepatitis B, with never using condoms for vaginal intercourse (OR: 3.14; 95%CI: [1.02-8.71]; p<0.05). Results from this study reveals high prevalence of hepatitis B and C among FSW in Togo and an opportunity for advocacy toward the introduction of immunizations and treatment in this population.