Seroprevalence of anti-HCV in an urban child population: a pilot survey in a developing area, Cameroon

• Published in: Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 95; no. 1; p. 57
• Main Authors: Ngatchu, T, Stroffolini, T, Rapicetta, M, Chionne, P, Lantum, D, Chiaramonte, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.02.1992
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Cameroon - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - immunology; Humans; Male; Odds Ratio; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Random Allocation; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Health; Cameroon; Immunologic Factors; Cameroon; Age Factors; Antibodies; Socioeconomic Status; Viral Diseases; Biology; Hematologic Tests; Laboratory Procedures; Urban Population; Research Methodology; Immunity; Socioeconomic Factors; Hepatitis; Clinical Research; Education; Population Characteristics; Employment Status; Human Volunteers; Population; Research Report; Physiology; Suburbanization; Child; Demographic Factors; Schools; Spatial Distribution; Occupational Status; Middle Africa; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Africa; Youth; French Speaking Africa; Urban Spatial Distribution; Examinations And Diagnoses; Diseases; Geographic Factors; Economic Factors; Primary Schools; Urbanization; Developing Countries; Africa South Of The Sahara
• ISSN: 0022-5304

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the principal agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis and its spread in the community is not well defined. We evaluated the prevalence of anti-HCV (ortho ELISA System) in 696 children (4-14 years) in Kumba, Cameroon. Children were selected by systematic random sampling in six primary schools. A seroprevalence of 14.5% (101 children) was found which increased steadily with age. No significant differences were observed with respect to sex or to family size. There was a highly significant association both with parents' social class, the lowest class presenting a 2.2-fold risk factor, and with area of residence, suburban children showing a significantly higher prevalence (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that Cameroon is endemic for HCV infection, that children are infected at an early age and that infection increases with age. We can therefore hypothesize that transmission of HCV infection in this population is from child to child. Furthermore, the infection seems to be influenced by social factors but not by demographic ones.