Significance of sexual route of transmission of hepatitis B and C in Russia

Abstract

It is generally understood that hepatitis B and hepatitis C may be sexually transmitted. During the last decade there was a sharp growth of hepatitis B and C in Russia. In comparison to 1992 the incidence of hepatitis B in Russia rose two-fold and in 1999 there were 43.31 cases per 100,000 of population (in some cities up to 150/100,000 and even more). The incidence of hepatitis C in 1999 (19.31 per 100,000 of population) rose to six times more than in 1994. At the same time there was a dramatic growth in syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections in Russia. The proportion of sexual transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared with other routes of transmission increased. According to the data from Moscow City Centre of Epidemiology during the last two years, up to 40% cases of HCV and HBV were sexually transmitted.

The most dramatic growth of registered cases of hepatitis was seen among the sexually active population aged 14-29. Confirmation of the sexual route of transmission of HBV and HCV in teenagers was seen when the results of the study showed various markers of HBV and HCV to be significantly more common among sexually active (n=45) than sexually inactive (n=341) teenagers (13.33% vs. 4.39% for HBsAg; 46.67% vs. 12.61% for HBsAg+anti-HBs+anti-HBc; 9.47% vs. 3.95% for anti-HCV, respectively).