[Epidemiology of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections and priority interventions for the elimination of Hepatitis B: a study in the Far North Region of Cameroon].

INTRODUCTION

with the aim of guiding the strategic response to major viral infections, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Far North region of Cameroon.

METHODS

we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological surveillance study in the Mayo-Tsanaga Division and surrounding localities in the Far North region of Cameroon from August 1 to September 20, 2024. After obtaining informed consent, each participant was given a standard questionnaire and tested for the three infections (HIV, HBV, and HCV) in accordance with the national testing algorithm. The collected data were analyzed using Excel 2019 and Power BI software, with a statistical significance threshold set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

a total of 3,188 participants were tested (60% female, median age 34 years [IQR 20-46]), of whom 396 tested positive overall, including 13 who were HIV-positive, 373 who were HBV-positive, and 10 who were HCV-positive. According to each type of infection, HIV, HBV and HCV seropositivity rates were 0.41% (13/3,170), 11.7% (373/3,188) and 0.31% (10/3,188), respectively. Despite the high endemicity of HBV (>8%), no statistically significant differences were observed by age or sex (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

the low prevalence rates (<1%) of HIV and HCV suggest that their elimination is effectively underway among populations in the Far North region of Cameroon. However, the high endemicity of HBV indicates ongoing transmission and underscores the urgent need to prioritize vaccination as the primary preventive intervention toward elimination.