Publications by authors named "Niza M Silungwe"
Article Synopsis
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease, and this study is the first to provide prevalence data from Southern Africa, specifically Blantyre, Malawi.
- A random sample of 1,661 individuals revealed an HCV RNA prevalence of 0.2% in the general population, while higher rates were found among patients with cirrhosis (1.9%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (5.0%).
- The study identified specific endemic HCV genotypes, predominantly genotype 4, and noted that infections predominantly occur in older individuals from peri-urban areas, indicating a historical transmission pattern.
Background: Hepatitis B is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. To reduce mortality, antiviral treatment programs are needed. We estimated prevalence, vaccine impact, and need for antiviral treatment in Blantyre, Malawi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted a reduction in viral hepatitis-related mortality by 65% and incidence by 90% by 2030, necessitating enhanced hepatitis B treatment and prevention programmes in low- and middle-income countries. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status is used in the assessment of eligibility for antiviral treatment and for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Accordingly, the WHO has classified HBeAg rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) as essential medical devices.
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