Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Among the General Population in Sub‐Saharan Africa—An Analysis of Systematic Review Data

ABSTRACT Understanding risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is critical for targeting screening and prevention. We systematically reviewed risk factors associated with HCV seroprevalence among the general population in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Comprehensive systematic review of HCV seroprevalence of community‐based observational studies reporting HCV risk factors in SSA. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Random effect meta‐analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We identified 92 studies. Higher odds of HCV seroprevalence were observed among age 21–64 (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.17–2.68) and 65+ groups (OR = 11.75, 95% CI 5.51–25.05) compared to those aged ≤ 20 years; not being formally educated (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.35–2.35) compared to secondary/above and being married (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.45–2.51) or divorced (OR = 3.20, 95% CI 1.91–5.36) compared to never married. Family history of HCV (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.17–1.96), being a person living with HIV (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.61–4.33) or being HBsAg positive (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.10–2.50) were all positively associated with increased HCV seroprevalence, as was having a history of blood transfusion (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.33–2.45), hospitalisation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.22–1.96), medical operation (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.01–1.62), scarification (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.01–1.64) and injection drug use (OR = 7.04, 95% CI 1.16–42.68). Pilot HCV screening programmes targeting older adults and people exposed to healthcare‐associated factors could potentially lead to the efficient detection of HCV cases and reduce future HCV exposures among the general population in SSA countries.