Séroprévalence des Virus des Hépatites B et C dans les Forces Armées Congolaises

ABSTRACT Objective.  To report the frequency of viruses B and C among members of the Congolese Armed Forces and to characterize their epidemiological profile.  Methods. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2019 over a period of six months. It was carried out in major military barracks in Brazzaville, and at the Central Army Hospital. Screening for HBsAg and anti-HCV Ab was performed by immunochromatographic tests and confirmed by the ELISA method. The socio-demographic factors of the study population and the risk factors for virus transmission were studied. Results. During the study, 319 agents of the Congolese Armed Forces were included. The mean age was 38.3 ± 8.05 years, with extremes of 22 and 66 years. The predominance was male, with a Sex Ratio of 23.5. Vaccination coverage was low at 5%. Sexual risk was the most represented, followed by scarification. The frequency of HBsAg and anti-HCV Ab was 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively. No cases of coinfection were found. No significant difference was found between the two viral markers and the study variables. Conclusion. The frequency of viruses B and C is low within the Congolese armed forces. There was no coinfection found. The risk factors identified are scarifications. RESUME Objectif. Determiner la frequence des virus B et C dans les Forces Armees Congolaises et en caracteriser le profil epidemiologique. Population et methodes. il s'est agi d'une etude descriptive transversale menee en 2019 sur une periode de six mois. Elle a ete realisee dans les differentes casernes de la zone militaire de Brazzaville appartenant a l'armee de terre,  et a l'Hopital  Central des Armees. Le depistage de l'AgHBs et de l'Ac anti-VHC a ete effectue par les tests immunochromatographiques et confirme par la methode ELISA. Les facteurs sociodemographiques de la population d'etude et les facteurs de risque de transmission des virus ont ete etudies. Resultats. pendant l'etude,  319 agents des Forces Armees Congolaises ont ete inclus. L'âge moyen etait de 38,3 ± 8,05 ans, les extremes 22 et 66 ans. La predominance etait masculine, avec un Sex Ratio de 23,5. La couverture vaccinale etait faible a 5%. Le risque sexuel a ete le plus represente, suivi des scarifications. La frequence de l'AgHBs et de l'Ac anti-VHC etait respectivement de 1,6% et de 0,6%. Aucun cas de coinfection n'a ete trouve. Aucune difference significative n'a ete trouvee entre les deux marqueurs viraux et les variables d'etude. Conclusion. la frequence des virus B et C est faible au sein des forces armees congolaises. Il n'y pas de coinfection retrouve. Les facteurs de risque identifies etaient les scarifications.