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Musafiri T, Kamali I, Kayihura C, de la Paix Gakuru J, Nyirahabihirwe F, Nizeyimana E, Kandamage P, Habinshuti P, Sekagarura R, Makuza JD, Karema N, Serumondo J, Ntakirutimana T, Ndahimana JD, Barnhart DA. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection and linkage to care among patients with Non-Communicable Diseases in three rural Rwandan districts: a retrospective cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:247. [PMID: 38388353 PMCID: PMC10885378 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08678-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rwanda's Hepatitis C elimination campaign has relied on mass screening campaigns. An alternative "micro-elimination" strategy focused on specific populations, such as non-communicable disease (NCD) patients, could be a more efficient approach to identifying patients and linking them to care. METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study used routine data collected during a targeted screening campaign among NCD patients in Kirehe, Kayonza, and Burera districts of Rwanda and patients receiving oncology services from the Butaro District Hospital. The campaign used rapid diagnostic tests to screen for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). We reported prevalences and 95% confidence intervals for HBsAg and anti-HCV, assessed for associations between patients' clinical programs and hepatitis B and C, and reported cascade of care for the two diseases. RESULTS Out of 7,603 NCD patients, 3398 (45.9%) self-reported a prior hepatitis screening. Prevalence of HBsAg was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.7%-2.3%) and anti-HCV was 6.7% (95% CI: 6.2%-7.3%). The prevalence of HBsAg was significantly higher among patients < 40 years (2.4%). Increased age was significantly associated with anti-HCV (12.0% among patients ≥ 70 years). Of the 148 individuals who screened positive for HbsAg, 123 had viral load results returned, 101 had detectable viral loads (median viral load: 451 UI/mL), and 12 were linked to care. Of the 507 individuals who screened positive for anti-HCV, 468 had their viral load results returned (median viral load: 1,130,000 UI/mL), 304 had detectable viral loads, and 230 were linked to care. CONCLUSION Anti-HCV prevalence among Rwandan patients with NCD was high, likely due to their older age. NCD-HCV co-infected patients had high HCV viral loads and may be at risk of poor outcomes from hepatitis C. Hepatitis C micro-elimination campaigns among NCD patients are a feasible and acceptable strategy to enhance case detection in this high-prevalence population with elevated viral loads and may support linkage to care for hepatitis C among elderly populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tumusime Musafiri
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda.
- Department of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Kigali, Rwanda.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Raymond Sekagarura
- Ministry of Health, Butaro District Hospital Cancer Center of Excellence, Burera, Rwanda
| | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- Rwanda Biomedical Centre, HIV, STIs, Viral Hepatitis and OVDC Division, Kigali, Rwanda
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nadine Karema
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | - Janvier Serumondo
- Rwanda Biomedical Centre, HIV, STIs, Viral Hepatitis and OVDC Division, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Theoneste Ntakirutimana
- Department of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Kigali, Rwanda
- School of Public Health, College of Medecine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Dale A Barnhart
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laterite Data, Research, and Analytics, Nairobi, Kenya
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Joseph C, Thurston C, Nizeyimana E, Scriba E, Conradsson DM, Rhoda A. Prevalence of secondary health conditions and mental status in persons with long-term spinal cord injury in South Africa: Comparison between public and private healthcare sectors. S Afr Med J 2023; 113:46-53. [PMID: 37170601 DOI: 10.7196/samj.2023.v113i5.16791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injuries typically result in a range of negative health outcomes and health states, which impacts overall functioning, health and well-being. It remains important to establish the prevalence (burden) of health outcomes to help with the development of optimal treatment strategies. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence and treatment rates of secondary health conditions (SHCs) and mental health states in persons with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) receiving public compared with private healthcare services in South Africa. METHODS A cross-sectional survey included 200 community-dwelling persons with long-term SCI, 60% with paraplegia, 53% with complete injuries and 156 from the public and 44 from private healthcare sectors. The following modules of the International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) community survey were used: (i) demographic and injury characteristics; (ii) SHCs and treatment rates; and (iii) vitality and emotional well-being. All statistical analyses were stratified according to healthcare sector. RESULTS Pain (47% v. 57), sexual dysfunction (59% v. 41%) and muscle spasms (54% v. 43%) were the most common SHCs in both cohorts, and the period prevalence was significantly higher for sleeping problems (41% v. 25%), sexual dysfunction (59% v. 41%) and contractures (42% v. 20%) in the public compared with the private cohort. Persons with SCI in the private cohort received treatment more often for sleeping problems (100% v. 45%), autonomic dysreflexia (75% v. 27%) and pain (56% v. 33%) than their counterparts with public insurance. Negative mental health states were prevalent in both groups. CONCLUSION SHCs and negative mental health were common in persons with SCI in South Africa, while those with public insurance reporter a higher occurrence of sleep problems and contractures, as well as lower treatment rates. Overall, a need exists to better support persons with SCI in the long-term context to facilitate improved functioning and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Joseph
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Division of Physiotherapy; Stellenbosch University; Cape Town.
| | - C Thurston
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
| | - E Nizeyimana
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - E Scriba
- Spescare Medical Facility, Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
| | - D M Conradsson
- Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Medical Unit Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Rhoda
- Deanery, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
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