Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Sierra Leone, 1997-2022: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem in Sierra Leone, yet reliable estimates of cases are lacking. This study aimed to provide an estimate of the national prevalence of chronic HBV infection in the general population and select groups in Sierra Leone. We used the electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online to systematically review articles reporting hepatitis B infection surface antigen seroprevalence estimates in Sierra Leone during 1997-2022. We estimated pooled HBV seroprevalence rates and assessed potential sources of heterogeneity. Of 546 publications screened, 22 studies with a total sample size of 107,186 people were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. T

SUBMITTER: Yendewa GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10323991 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature