TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence and correlates of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C virus among intrapartum patients in Kabul, Afghanistan
AU - Todd, Catherine S.
AU - Ahmadzai, Malalay
AU - Atiqzai, Faridullah
AU - Miller, Suellen
AU - Smith, Jeffrey M.
AU - Ghazanfar, Syed Alef Shah
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial Support: This study was funded by the Fogarty International Center of the United States National Institutes of Health (1K01TW007408-01). Hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis rapid test kits were donated by the Global Fund Management Unit of the Ministry of Public Health through funding from the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis and hepatitis C and all confirmatory test kits were donated by U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 3.
PY - 2008/9/17
Y1 - 2008/9/17
N2 - Background: Little current information is available for prevalence of vertically-transmitted infections among the Afghan population. The purpose of this study is to determine prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and hepatitis B and C infection among obstetric patients and model hepatitis B vaccination approaches in Kabul, Afghanistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three government maternity hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan from June through September, 2006. Consecutively-enrolled participants completed an interviewer-administered survey and whole blood rapid testing with serum confirmation for antibodies to HIV, T. pallidum, and HCV, and HBsAg. Descriptive data and prevalence of infection were calculated, with logistic regression used to identify correlates of HBV infection. Modeling was performed to determine impact of current and birth dose vaccination strategies on HBV morbidity and mortality. Results: Among 4452 women, prevalence of HBsAg was 1.53% (95% CI: 1.18 - 1.94) and anti-HCV was 0.31% (95% CI: 0.17 - 0.53). No cases of HIV or syphilis were detected. In univariate analysis, HBsAg was associated with husband's level of education (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.26). Modeling indicated that introduction of birth dose vaccination would not significantly reduce hepatitis-related morbidity or mortality for the measured HBsAg prevalence. Conclusion: Intrapartum whole blood rapid testing for HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV was acceptable to patients in Afghanistan. Though HBsAg prevalence is relatively low, periodic assessments should be performed to determine birth dose vaccination recommendations for this setting.
AB - Background: Little current information is available for prevalence of vertically-transmitted infections among the Afghan population. The purpose of this study is to determine prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and hepatitis B and C infection among obstetric patients and model hepatitis B vaccination approaches in Kabul, Afghanistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three government maternity hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan from June through September, 2006. Consecutively-enrolled participants completed an interviewer-administered survey and whole blood rapid testing with serum confirmation for antibodies to HIV, T. pallidum, and HCV, and HBsAg. Descriptive data and prevalence of infection were calculated, with logistic regression used to identify correlates of HBV infection. Modeling was performed to determine impact of current and birth dose vaccination strategies on HBV morbidity and mortality. Results: Among 4452 women, prevalence of HBsAg was 1.53% (95% CI: 1.18 - 1.94) and anti-HCV was 0.31% (95% CI: 0.17 - 0.53). No cases of HIV or syphilis were detected. In univariate analysis, HBsAg was associated with husband's level of education (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.26). Modeling indicated that introduction of birth dose vaccination would not significantly reduce hepatitis-related morbidity or mortality for the measured HBsAg prevalence. Conclusion: Intrapartum whole blood rapid testing for HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV was acceptable to patients in Afghanistan. Though HBsAg prevalence is relatively low, periodic assessments should be performed to determine birth dose vaccination recommendations for this setting.
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U2 - 10.1186/1471-2334-8-119
DO - 10.1186/1471-2334-8-119
M3 - Article
C2 - 18798996
AN - SCOPUS:53349171303
SN - 1471-2334
VL - 8
SP - 119
JO - BMC infectious diseases
JF - BMC infectious diseases
M1 - 119
ER -