Hepatitis C virus in Kenya: a 10-year systematic review

This systematic review examines the landscape of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Kenya, amalgamating data from studies conducted between July 2013 and July 2023. A total of 17 articles were selected based on an inclusion criteria, focusing on the prevalence, risk factors, and implications for public health strategies related to HCV. These studies predominantly targeted specific populations, including intravenous drug users (IVDUs), HIV patients, blood donors, and select healthcare service attendees. The pooled HCV prevalence across all populations was 5.76%, with notably higher rates among high-risk groups (13.825% in the IVDU and 4.257% in HIV patients). Genotypic analysis revealed a predominance of genotypes 1a and 4a among the sequenced samples. Risk factors for HCV transmission included drug injection practices, incarceration history, female sex, and HIV coinfection. Geographically, the focus was primarily on the southern and western regions of Kenya, with limited representation from northern areas. The scarcity of comprehensive data in certain regions and population subsets underscores the need for more extensive research to capture a holistic national HCV prevalence profile. This review underscores the urgency for enhanced surveillance, comprehensive screening strategies, and tailored interventions, especially among high-risk populations. Based on these findings, we recommend there is need for robust policies, resource allocation, and awareness campaigns to curb HCV transmission and progress toward the WHO goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030.