Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among undocumented migrants and uninsured legal residents in the Netherlands: A cross-sectional study, 2018–2019

Background Migrants are not routinely screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Netherlands. We estimated the prevalence and determined factors associated with HBV, HCV and/or HIV infections among undocumented migrants and uninsured legal residents. Methods In this cross-sectional study, undocumented migrants and uninsured legal residents were recruited at a non governmental organization (NGO), healthcare facility in the Netherlands and were invited to be tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core anti... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Klok, Sarineke
van Dulm, Eline
Boyd, Anders
Generaal, Ellen
Eskander, Sally
Joore, Ivo Kim
van Cleef, Brigitte
Siedenburg, Evelien
Bruisten, Sylvia
van Duijnhoven, Yvonne
Tramper-Stranders, Gerdien
Prins, Maria
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2021
Reihe/Periodikum: PLOS ONE ; volume 16, issue 10, page e0258932 ; ISSN 1932-6203
Verlag/Hrsg.: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Schlagwörter: Multidisciplinary
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26845752
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258932

Background Migrants are not routinely screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Netherlands. We estimated the prevalence and determined factors associated with HBV, HCV and/or HIV infections among undocumented migrants and uninsured legal residents. Methods In this cross-sectional study, undocumented migrants and uninsured legal residents were recruited at a non governmental organization (NGO), healthcare facility in the Netherlands and were invited to be tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBcAb), HCV-RNA, and anti-HIV antibodies or HIV antigen at a local laboratory. Results Of the 1376 patients invited, 784 (57%) participated. Participants originated from Africa (35%), Asia (30%) and North/South America (30%). 451/784 (58%) participants went to the laboratory for testing. Of participants 30% were HBV exposed (anti-HBcAb-positive), with 27% (n = 119/438, 95% CI 23.1% to 31.6%) having resolved HBV infection (HBsAg-negative) and 2.5% (n = 11/438, 95%CI 1.3% to 4.5%, 64% new infection) having chronic HBV infection (HBsAg-positive). Compared to HBV non-exposed, HBV exposed individuals were older ( p = 0.034) and more often originated from Africa ( p <0.001). Prevalence of chronic HCV infection (HCV-RNA-positive) was 0.7% (n = 3/435, 95%CI 0.1% to 2.0%, all new infections) and HIV infection 1.1% (n = 5/439, 95%CI 0.04% to 2.6%, 40% new infection). Conclusion Prevalence of chronic HBV, chronic HCV and HIV infections in our study population is higher compared to the Dutch population, thus emphasizing the importance of case finding for these infections through primary care and public health in this specific group of migrants. Screening uptake could be improved by on-site testing.