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SDG 3: hepatitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) goals, Ukraine aims to eliminate viral hepatitis. While some data on viral hepatitis B and C prevalence exist among key populations, nationwide prevalence in the general population has never been assessed.

AIM

To assess the prevalence of viral hepatitis B, C, and D seromarkers in Ukraine in 2021 to plan and monitor elimination measures.

METHODS

Blood samples available from a cross-sectional household-based SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey conducted in 2021 were tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, total antibodies against hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibodies. We calculated crude and weighted proportions for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and HBsAg positivity. To account for differences in sex, age group and urbanisation level, we applied post-stratification weights using inverse probability weighting based on the distribution of the Ukrainian population. We calculated proportions positive for anti-HDV among HBsAg-positive cases and weighted regional estimates for HBV and HCV seromarkers.

RESULTS

Weighted prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.3% (95% CI: 2.8–4.0), anti-HBc 11.6% (95% CI: 10.8–12.5) and HBsAg 0.9% (95% CI: 0.7–1.2). Among HBsAg-positive individuals, 7.5% (95% СI: 3.0–17.9) were anti-HDV positive. We found higher prevalence of HBV and HCV seromarkers among men and in southern Ukraine.

CONCLUSION

HBsAg prevalence and considerably high anti-HBc and anti-HCV prevalence indicate substantial lifetime exposure. This reinforces the necessity of sustained prevention such as HBV vaccination of newborns and groups at increased risk, regular hepatitis B and C screening, early treatment, and raising awareness to reduce ongoing transmission.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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2025-07-24
2025-07-26
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National representative seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B, C, and D seromarkers in Ukraine, 2021
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Ludmila+Kasatkina&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Kasatkina Ludmila</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Vladyslav+Fedorchenko&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Fedorchenko Vladyslav</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Iryna+Sidorova&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sidorova Iryna</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Lidia+Gomenyuk&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Gomenyuk Lidia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Oleksandra+Yakovets&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Yakovets Oleksandra</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Michael+Brandl&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Brandl Michael</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Iryna+Ivanchuk&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Ivanchuk Iryna</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Sandra+Dudareva&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Dudareva Sandra</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Olena+Nesterova&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Nesterova Olena</a></span>. National representative seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B, C, and D seromarkers in Ukraine, 2021. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2025;30(29):pii=2500015. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.29.2500015" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.29.2500015</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 25 Dec 2024;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 04 Jun 2025 </span> </p>
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