title: Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and human immunodeficiency virus in transfused children in Kinshasa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and associated factors among transfused children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter cross-sectional study of transfused children aged between 18 mo and 13 y old was conducted in 4 hospitals in Kinshasa. Blood samples were collected for the detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HCV, HIV 1 and 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 177 (47.7 %) boys and 194 (52.3 %) girls participated in the study. The median age was 59.5 mo (Interquartile range IQR = 60.6). The prevalence rates of HCV, HBV, and HIV infection were 13.5 %, 1.6 %, and 1.3 %, respectively. Frequency of transfusion events were significantly associated with HCV (p < 0.001) and HIV (p < 0.05) infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV infection was by far more frequently identified than HBV and HIV infections among Congolese transfused children. Frequency of transfusion events was the only significant risk factor associated with HCV and HIV infections but not for HBV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Kinshasa School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katabuka
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mafuta
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ngoma
authors.forename: P Mutombo
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Beya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aketi
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kayembe
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies