1. Study of HCV and HIV infections in Mali: comparative epidemiology and Risk Factors Nouhoum Bouare1, Dolores Vaira1, Andre Gothot1, Jean Delwaide1, Lorence Seidel1, Paul Gerard2, Andre Sasse3, Sebastien Bontems1, Christiane Gerard1 1 CHU-ULg Liege (Belgium), 2 Institute of Mathematic ULg Liege (Belgium), 3 Institute of public health Brussels (Belgium).
To compare the epidemiological profile of HIV and HCV infections in Malian women and to develop prevention means by documenting risk factors
Aim
Two prospective studies were conducted in Bamako (Malian capital) in 2009 among 1000 pregnant women in six health centers and in 2010 among 231 women> 50 y.o seen in two hospitals for general practice. Antibody tests and PCR (only for HCV) were used to quantify the infections frequencies. Infections transmission risk factors were identified from the univariate analysis (Chi2 and logistic regression) of data collected in patients recruited after informed consent.
Patients and Methods
Results
Prevalence anti-HCV (0.2%) and HCV-RNA (0.1%) were low in young women and significantly greater among older women (6.49% and 5.63%) . Risk factors analysis highlighted an obvious association between HCV infection and hospitalization¹ in older women (fig. 1, P <0.01). HIV infection was significantly associted with the divorced³ status in older women (fig. 2), but not with following variables as hospitalization, transfusion, tattooing or scarification/piercing, dental care and endoscopy which not represented here. However, a significant decrease of HIV seroprevalence was detected in young women who used condoms² more for contraception than any other reason (fig. 2, P<0.01). By contrast, HIV seroprevalence (data not represented here) was significantly increased in young women who used condoms more to prevent sexual infections than any other reason (P <0.01). These young women are unfortunately better informed about prevention and transmission modes after contagion. No co-infection HCV/HIV found.
Figure 1: Variation of HCV seroprevalence in older women according to risk factors
* Variable analyzed only in young women
** HCV infection was not associted to marital status of women
Conclusion
An epidemiological dissimilarity of both infections seems obvious in Mali: a blood transmission of HCV seems to coexist with a predominantly HIV sexual transmission.
Figure 2: Variation of HIV seroprevalence in young and older women according to risk factors