Hepatitis B is a neglected public health emergency in African countries
HEPSANET is a collaborative research network with a simple goal: to improve policy and care for patients living with hepatitis B in Africa
We are a group of clinician-researchers working in sites in West, Central, East and Southern Africa. We work with patients with chronic hepatitis B: a neglected disease of increasing public health importance.
Our research focuses on two areas: how to prevent infection in children, and how to give antiviral treatment to those who need it.
Our goals are to to work out how to prevent transmission, to define who needs antiviral treatment, when to start it, and how to deliver effective treatment programmes.
A neglected disease, a rising epidemic
Hepatitis B causes liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and liver cirrhosis (extensive damage to the liver). These problems are increasing in African countries and without action, many people will die of preventable disease.
Although effective treatment is available, very few people currently have access to treatment in the region. We want to see this change.
Preventing mother to child transmission of hepatitis B
Mothers with hepatitis B can transmit hepatitis B infection to their children. A 2017 study estimated that 1% of children born in African countries were infected with hepatitis B.
We can reduce transmission with vaccination given to infants at birth, followed by three more vaccines. We can also give antiviral treatment to mothers with high levels of hepatitis B virus.
Few babies have access to a vaccine at the time of birth even in countries that have adopted this policy. We are studying ways to prevent transmission of hepatitis B.
Antiviral treatment
Antiviral treatment works! Tenofovir works to stop hepatitis B virus replicating. It prevents liver disease, reduces the risk of liver cancer, and improves quality of life.
Not everyone needs antiviral treatment and treatment guidelines have been difficult to implement in African countries. We are working to understand which patients need treatment and how to implement treatment programmes which really work.