By Samwel Doe Ouma @samweldoe
Health experts cites traditional invasive body procedures using unsterilized tools as being the main drivers of the high prevalence of Hepatitis B in three counties.
It has now emerged the three counties in Kenya have the highest prevalence of the disease at more than 10 per cent.
They include Turkana at 16.8 per cent followed by Baringo (11.9) and Migori with a prevalence of 10 per cent.
According to Dr Simon Kibias, the regions with high prevalence of HBV in Kenya are Turkana County, Baringo County and Migori County.
However, he explained that more studies are still being undertaken to ascertain other causes although preliminary research from the ongoing study by Kemri in Baringo cited sharing of sharp-cutting objects that have not been sterilized as the main cause.
“The likely causes of HBV in the regions are invasive cultural practices like tattooing, circumcising without using sterilized equipment because they are done traditionally, “he explained.
Dr Kibias is the ministry of health (MoH), Head of the Directorate of Health Standards, Quality Assurance and Regulation.
“We have circumcision which is a rite of passage practiced in these counties and when they are practiced some of them may use unsterilized equipment,” Dr Jebet Boit from Nascop said.
Hepatitis B virus can cause an acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982 and it is 95 per cent effective in preventing infection and its chronic consequences, and was the first vaccine against a major human cancer.
The Kenya Population-based HIV Impact Assessment 2018 estimates the prevalence of Hepatitis B as three per cent among the general population and 4.7 per cent among the people living with HIV.
Hepatitis C in Kenya is more prevalent among the people who inject drugs with an estimate at 12- 15.6 per cent.
