Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41023884›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2025

The epidemiology of hepatitis b virus infection in Uganda after two decades of vaccination: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Hussein Mukasa Kafeero, Hakim Sendagire, Dorothy Ndagire, Abdul Walusansa, Ali Kudamba, Fahad Muwanda, Mariam Namusoke, Ponsiano Ocama

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hussein Mukasa KafeeroDepartment of Biomedical and Mechatronics Engineering, Kyambogo University, P.O Box 1, Kyambogo, Uganda. husseinmukasakafeero@gmail.com.
Hakim SendagireDepartment of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Dorothy NdagireDepartment of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Abdul WalusansaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P.O Box 7689, Kampala, Uganda.
Ali KudambaDepartment of Physiology, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P.O Box 7689, Kampala, Uganda.
Fahad MuwandaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P.O Box 7689, Kampala, Uganda.
Mariam NamusokeDepartment of Biochemistry, Habib Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P.O Box 7689, Kampala, Uganda.
Ponsiano OcamaDepartment of medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a public health threat in Uganda, despite the introduction of the HBV vaccine and its inclusion in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) more than two decades ago. This study aimed at providing up-to-date information on the epidemiology of HBV in Uganda and inform the way forward when designing the interventions to control and prevent the virus.

methodsA systematic search for records published between 1st January 2002 and 30th June 2024 from PubMed and African Journal Online (AJOL) was done from which data on the overall and subgroup prevalence of HBV was extracted. Both the random and fixed effect models were used to pool data for the overall and sub group meta-analysis. The overall and subgroup trend of HBV prevalence over the last two decades was evaluated by meta-regression modelling. The predictors of HBV infection were analysed by using odds ratio (OR). The I2 index in the primary records was used to evaluate the heterogeneity. Publication bias in the primary studies was assessed by using Egger’s test and funnel plot asymmetry. All analyses were done at 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p < 0.05 was considered significant.

resultsA total of 34 original studies were included in the data synthesis with a pooled sample size of 81,416 individuals. The pooled prevalence of HBV was 8.3% but varied with region and study group. It was highest in the eastern region (p < 0.05) and among the community-based studies (p < 0.05). By meta-regression modelling, there has been an overall decrease in the prevalence of HBV since the integration of the vaccine as part of the EPI in 2002 (p < 0.05) and in the central, eastern and northern regions. Conversely, there was an increase in the prevalence of HBV in western Uganda with a strong temporal explanatory power (R² = 0.700). Familial contact with an HBV infected person; odds ratio (OR) = 3.85, p = 0.006 was the most significant risk factor for HBV infection. In contrast, age < 20 year; OR = 0.52, p = 0.016 was protective against HBV infection.

conclusionDespite the significant progress registered in reducing the prevalence of HBV since the integration of HepB vaccine as part of the EPI, there are still regional and cohort specific disparities in the prevalence of HBV in Uganda. Thus, different interventions should be designed in tandem with the differences in the prevalence by specific groups and regions.

Indexed as

Hepatitis BHepatitis B VaccinesHepatitis B virusVaccinationHumansPrevalenceUgandaHepatitis B VaccinesHepatitis b virusMeta-analysisMeta-regressionPrevalenceVaccination

Identifiers

PMID41023884
PMCPMC12482479

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.