1,2Traore, S., *2,3Conde, M. S., 2,3Conde, M., 2Youla, Y., 2,3Diallo, A., 2,3Camara, A. S., 2,3Camara, A. A., 2,3Soumah, M. L., 3Diakite, Z., and 3Sako, F. B.
1Centre Médical Communal de Matam, Conakry, Guinea
2Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Santé Université Gamal Abdel de Conakry, Guinea
3Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ignace Deen de Conakry, Guinea *Correspondence to: mamadisaran93@gmail.com
Abstract:
Background: Hepatitis B remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly because of its high prevalence and serious complications. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in patients seen at the Medical Biology Laboratory of the Communal Medical Center (CMC) in Matam, Guinea-Conakry.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 6 months (January to June 2025). All patients who came for biological examination were included, and seroprevalence of hepatitis B was determined by detecting HBsAg in the serum samples of the patients using rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) method.
Results: Of the total 186 patients included, 15 tested positive for HBsAg, giving hepatitis B seroprevalence of 8.0%. The mean age of affected patients was 39±13 years. Males were more frequently affected (60.0%), with a male to female ratio of 1.5. Housewives (53.3%) and civil servants (26.7%) were the main socio-professional categories most frequently affected.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of 8.0% indicates that hepatitis B virus is circulating in Matam, Guinea-Conakry. This result underlines the need to step up hepatitis B screening, awareness-raising and vaccination efforts in Matam area.
Keywords: Seroprevalence, HBsAg, Immunochromatographic, Screening, Guinea-Conakry
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