Journal article
Impact of COVID-19 on Hepatitis B Screening in Sierra Leone: Insights from a Community Pharmacy Model of Care
IJID regions, Vol.9, pp.7-13
12/2023
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Background
There are limited studies evaluating the impact of COVID-19-related interruptions on hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening in endemic countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of HBV testing in a community pharmacy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2022. We compared participant characteristics using Pearson's chi-square test. We evaluated trends in HBV screening and diagnosis using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's or Dunnett's post-test.
Findings
Of 920 individuals screened, 161 had detectable HBsAg (seroprevalence 17.5% [95% CI 14.9-20.4]). There was a 100% decrease in HBV screening during January-June of 2020; however, screening increased by 27% and 23% in the first and second year after COVID-19, respectively. Mean quarterly tests showed a significant upward trend: 55 ± 6 tests during January-March (baseline), 74 ± 16 tests during April-June, 101 ± 3 tests during July-September, and 107 ± 17 tests during October-December (one-way ANOVA test for trend, F=7.7, p = 0.0254) but not the mean quarterly number of people diagnosed with HBV (F = 0.34, p = 0.7992).
Interpretation
Community-based HBV screening dramatically improved following temporary disruptions related to COVID-19. Seasonal variation in HBV screening, but not HBV diagnosis, may have implications for HBV elimination efforts in Sierra Leone and other West African countries.
Details
- Title
- Impact of COVID-19 on Hepatitis B Screening in Sierra Leone: Insights from a Community Pharmacy Model of Care
- Creators
- Manal Ghazzawi - KnowHep FoundationLawrence S. Babawo - Njala UniversityAmir M. Mohareb - Harvard UniversityPeter B. James - Southern Cross UniversitySahr A. Yendewa - Ministry of Health and SanitationSamuel P.E. Massaquoi - Ministry of Health and SanitationPeterlyn E. Cummings - Ministry of Health and SanitationSulaiman Lakoh - University of Sierra LeoneRobert A. Salata - Case Western Reserve UniversityGeorge A. Yendewa - Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Publication Details
- IJID regions, Vol.9, pp.7-13
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Identifiers
- 991013135889902368
- Copyright
- © 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license, (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article