Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa

Abstract Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is one of the most important global causes of viral hepatitis. Recent reviews suggested that HAV endemicity in South Africa could shift from high to intermediate. A hospital-based HAV seroprevalence study was conducted between February 2018 and December 201...

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Main Authors: Nicolette M. du Plessis, Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani, Nkengafac Villyen Motaze, Makhosazane Ngobese, Theunis Avenant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25064-x
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author Nicolette M. du Plessis
Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani
Nkengafac Villyen Motaze
Makhosazane Ngobese
Theunis Avenant
author_facet Nicolette M. du Plessis
Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani
Nkengafac Villyen Motaze
Makhosazane Ngobese
Theunis Avenant
author_sort Nicolette M. du Plessis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is one of the most important global causes of viral hepatitis. Recent reviews suggested that HAV endemicity in South Africa could shift from high to intermediate. A hospital-based HAV seroprevalence study was conducted between February 2018 and December 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. Systematic sampling was performed on children and adolescents (1–15 years) who attended outpatient services. Participants with a known HIV status and valid HAV serology results were included. Of the 1220 participants, the median age was 7 years (IQR: 4–11), with 648 (53.11%) males and 572 (46.89%) females. Of 628 (51.48%) HIV-infected participants, most (329, 71.83%) were both immunologically and virologically controlled or had low-level viremia (74, 16.16%). Almost three-quarters (894, 73.28%) were living in formal dwellings, and just over half (688, 56.39%) had access to clean water sources inside the house. Increasing age was associated with testing HAV IgG-positive (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.20–1.30, p < 0.001), with 19.8% of participants one year of age compared with 86.7% of participants 15 years of age. This study suggests that South Africa has an intermediate HAV seroprevalence, with rates < 90% by 10 years of age (68.6%). Increased age and informal dwellings are statistically associated with HAV seropositivity, while HIV status does not significantly influence HAV seropositivity.
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spelling doaj.art-3b71f63e9ebf476bbb7f09632b9e57a02022-12-22T02:48:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-011211610.1038/s41598-022-25064-xHepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South AfricaNicolette M. du Plessis0Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani1Nkengafac Villyen Motaze2Makhosazane Ngobese3Theunis Avenant4Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kalafong Hospital, University of PretoriaDepartment of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandMedicine Usage in South Africa, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, North West UniversityDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kalafong Hospital, University of PretoriaDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kalafong Hospital, University of PretoriaAbstract Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is one of the most important global causes of viral hepatitis. Recent reviews suggested that HAV endemicity in South Africa could shift from high to intermediate. A hospital-based HAV seroprevalence study was conducted between February 2018 and December 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. Systematic sampling was performed on children and adolescents (1–15 years) who attended outpatient services. Participants with a known HIV status and valid HAV serology results were included. Of the 1220 participants, the median age was 7 years (IQR: 4–11), with 648 (53.11%) males and 572 (46.89%) females. Of 628 (51.48%) HIV-infected participants, most (329, 71.83%) were both immunologically and virologically controlled or had low-level viremia (74, 16.16%). Almost three-quarters (894, 73.28%) were living in formal dwellings, and just over half (688, 56.39%) had access to clean water sources inside the house. Increasing age was associated with testing HAV IgG-positive (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.20–1.30, p < 0.001), with 19.8% of participants one year of age compared with 86.7% of participants 15 years of age. This study suggests that South Africa has an intermediate HAV seroprevalence, with rates < 90% by 10 years of age (68.6%). Increased age and informal dwellings are statistically associated with HAV seropositivity, while HIV status does not significantly influence HAV seropositivity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25064-x
spellingShingle Nicolette M. du Plessis
Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani
Nkengafac Villyen Motaze
Makhosazane Ngobese
Theunis Avenant
Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
Scientific Reports
title Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
title_full Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
title_fullStr Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
title_short Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high-burden HIV setting in urban South Africa
title_sort hepatitis a virus seroprevalence among children and adolescents in a high burden hiv setting in urban south africa
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25064-x
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