Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697750017887.pdf (Georgia)
PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS Ana Kasradze, MPH National Center for Disease Control and Public Health 1 Rationale  Limited data on HBV and HCV prevalence and associated risk factors; 2 Survey objectives  Primary Objectives  Calculate HCV & HBV prevalence in Georgia In 6 major cities (including Tbilisi) Several specific geographical regions • Nation-wide • • • Urban vs. rural  Determine risk factors  Secondary Objectives  Update 2010 WHO data on prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – hypertension, obesity, smoking, alcohol misuse, physical activity 3 Methods  Sample chosen using a stratified, multi-stage cluster design with systematic sampling  Sample: 7,000 adults, >18 years of age  Among participants who consented, together with risk factors, knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was collected.
4 HBV prevalence Overall Anti-HBc+ HBsAg+ % 25.9 2.9 n 1634 188 95% CI 24.2 - 27.6 2.4 - 3.5 Female 2.5 Male 3.4 HBsAg+ anti-HBc+ 24.9 27.0 0 5 HBV prevalence by age-groups anti-HBc+ HBsAg+ 50 40 30 20 10 0 31.1 27.5 28.3 27.2 32.7 11.9 4.2 4.5 2.7 2.4 1.4 1.3 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ 6 Distribution of anti-HBc by regions Distribution of HBsAg by regions 8 Associated risk factors Characteristic (anti-HBc+) Ever injecting drugs OR 2.46 Ever having a blood transfusion 1.67 Ever having sex with a commercial sex worker 1.46 Characteristic (HBsAg) OR Ever having a blood transfusion 2.72 Incarceration 2.72 95%CI 1.64 - 3.69 1.32 - 2.11 1.07 - 2.00 95%CI 1.54 - 4.80 1.25 - 5.93 *Ever injecting drugs was not associated with being HBsAg positive.
9 HBV knowledge  Only 36.7% has ever heard of HBV;  Transmission: – Blood 23.3% – Sharing needles or syringes 20.6% – Sharing household objects like razors 18.7%;  Out of those who had heard of HBV, 42.8% were aware that it could be treated; AND  42.5% knew that it could be asymptomatic.
10 Limitations  Cross-sectional design – limited ability to draw causal associations;  Self-reported risk factor data;  Not a nationally representative PWID study – underreporting due to IDU criminalization; 11 Conclusions  Prevalence is relatively high compared to EURO region, where it varies within 1%;  Young adults (18-39), were most affected by HBV infection (4,5%);  Blood transfusion, IDU, having sex with the commercial sex workers and incarceration were the risk factors associated with HBV infection;  Prevalence of HBV vary by region;  Efforts should be focused on raising awareness about HBV infection and its associated risks among general population.
12 Acknowledgements Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Statistics Office of Georgia Survey Team 13