Occurrence of hepatitis B and C virus infection in socioeconomic population strata from Recife, Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil

• Main Authors: Carolline de Araújo Mariz (Author), Cynthia Braga (Author), Maria de Fátima Pessoa Militão de Albuquerque (Author), Carlos Feitosa Luna (Author), Daniela Medeiros Salustiano (Author), Naishe Matos Freire (Author), Clarice Neuenschwander Lins de Morais (Author), Edmundo Pessoa Lopes (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1980-5497; 10.1590/1980-549720240033
• Keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Viral hepatitis; Socioeconomic status; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, Vol 27 (2024)

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the probability of infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in different socioeconomic strata of the population of Recife, Northeast Brazil. Methods: Study carried out from samples obtained in a survey of residents of a large urban center that had a population base and stratified sampling with random selection of households using the "Brazil Sample" package in the R software. HBV (HBsAg) and anti-HCV was performed using immunochromatographic tests. In cases positive for HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBeAg were tested using chemiluminescence, as well as HBV-DNA using real-time PCR. For cases positive for anti-HCV, the search for this antibody was repeated by chemiluminescence and for HCV-RNA by real-time PCR. The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV cases in the general population was estimated based on a theoretical negative binomial distribution. Results: Among 2,070 samples examined, 5 (0.24%) were HBsAg and 2 (0.1%) anti-HCV positive. The majority of cases had self-reported skin color as black/brown (6/7), education level up to high school (6/7), a steady partner (5/7) and lived in an area of low socioeconomic status (5/7). Conclusion : The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was lower than those previously found in population-based studies and slightly lower than the most recent estimates. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status should be a priority target of public health policies.