title: The risk for hepatitis A, B, and C at two institutions for children in Somalia with different socioeconomic conditions.
abstract: The prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis A, B, and C was investigated in children from two residential institutions in Somalia. Among 596 individuals at one residence (Shebeli), the prevalences were 96% for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), 75% for total hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, 16% for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 1.5% for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Corresponding figures for the 76 individuals at a smaller residence (Societe Organisation Sociale, SOS) were 59%, 20%, 3.9%, and 0%, respectively. At Shebeli, the HBsAg carrier rates in the 1-10-year-old age group was 28% for boys and 16% for girls. These rates were significantly higher than in the older children (16% and 7.4% for boys and girls, respectively). Fifty-eight percent of the HBsAg carriers were positive for hepatitis B e antigen. Total HBV markers were significantly more frequent in girls from Shebeli, when their duration of residence was longer than five years (89% versus 63%). The duration of stay did not influence the prevalences of HBsAg, HAV, or HCV antibodies. A followup study of children initially seronegative for HBV markers was carried out after two years. For children at Shebeli 1-10 years old, the annual seroconversion rates to HBV markers (95% confidence interval) was 60.5% (42.7-77.0%). The corresponding rate for children at SOS was 10.2% (5.2-17.5%). The differences between the two institutions in the prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis A and B, and in the annual seroconversion rate to HBV markers reflected different rates of horizontal transmission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mogadishu, Somalia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bile
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mohamud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aden
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isse
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Norder
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magnius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002674:Child, Institutionalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens