Hope, VD, Eramova, I, Capurro, D and Donoghoe, MC (2013) Prevalence and estimation of hepatitis B and C infections in the WHO European Region: a review of data focusing on the countries outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. Epidemiology and Infection, 142 (2). ISSN 0950-2688

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Abstract

Knowledge of hepatitis B and C prevalence, and numbers infected, are important for planning responses. Published HBsAg and anti-HCV prevalences for the 20 WHO European Region countries outside the EU/EFTA were extracted, to complement published data for the EU/EFTA. The general population prevalence of HBsAg (median 3·8%, mean 5·0%, seven countries) ranged from 1·3% (Ukraine) to 13% (Uzbekistan), and anti-HCV (median 2·3%, mean 3·8%, 10 countries) from 0·5% (Serbia, Tajikistan) to 13% (Uzbekistan). People who inject drugs had the highest prevalence of both infections (HBsAg: median 6·8%, mean 8·2%, 13 countries; anti-HCV: median 46%, mean 46%, 17 countries), and prevalence was also elevated in men who have sex with men and sex workers. Simple estimates indicated 13·3 million (1·8%) adults have HBsAg and 15·0 million (2·0%) HCV RNA in the WHO European Region; prevalences were higher outside the EU/EFTA countries. Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat these infections need to be maintained and improved.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1117 Public Health and Health Services
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2019 11:18
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 01:57
DOI or ID number:	10.1017/S0950268813000940
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10274

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