{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T14:21:21Z","timestamp":1791814881889,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]],"date-time":"2023-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1687478400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The Task Force for Global Health"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The current burden of Hepatitis C virus infection and the availability of HCV-related services in Ghana are not well described. Previous estimates on HCV seroprevalence in the country are outdated. This study investigated the HCV seroprevalence and testing and treatment capacity in Ghana. A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted in which laboratory and blood bank registers from 17 public healthcare institutions in Ghana were reviewed. A survey on cost and availability of HCV-related testing and treatment was also performed. Crude and pooled estimates of HCV seroprevalence, frequency and median cost of available diagnostic tests and medicines were described. The crude HCV seroprevalence was 2.62% (95% CI 2.53\u20132.72) and the pooled estimate was 4.58% (95% CI 4.06\u20135.11) among 103,609 persons tested in laboratories. Age (OR 1.02 95% CI 1.01\u20131.02) and male sex (OR 1.26 95% CI 1.08\u20131.48) were predictors of a positive anti-HCV RDT test. Northern administrative regions in Ghana had the highest HCV seroprevalence ranging from 8.3\u201314.4%. Among 55, 458 potential blood donors, crude HCV seroprevalence was 3.57% (95% CI 3.42\u20133.72). Testing was through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits in most facilities, and only 2 of 17 centres were performing HCV RNA testing. The median cost of an anti-HCV RDT test was $0.97 (0\u20131.61) and $3.23 (1.61\u20137.58) for persons with and without government health insurance respectively. The median cost of a 12-week course of the pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral therapy sofosbuvir-daclatasvir was $887.70. In conclusion, there are significant regional differences in HCV burden across Ghana. Limited access to and cost of HCV RNA and DAA therapy hinders testing and treatment capability, and consequently HCV elimination efforts. A national HCV program supported with a sustainable financing plan is required to accelerate HCV elimination in Ghana.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0287580","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,24]],"date-time":"2023-06-24T21:04:33Z","timestamp":1687640673000},"page":"e0287580","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence, testing, and treatment capacity in public health facilities in Ghana, 2016\u20132021; A multi-centre cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2891-3082","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Yvonne Ayerki","family":"Nartey","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9837-9172","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Rafiq","family":"Okine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Atsu","family":"Seake-Kwawu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Georgia","family":"Ghartey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yaw Karikari","family":"Asamoah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ampem Darko Jnr","family":"Siaw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kafui","family":"Senya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amoako","family":"Duah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alex","family":"Owusu-Ofori","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3545-8655","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Opei","family":"Adarkwa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Seth","family":"Agyeman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sally Afua","family":"Bampoh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lindsey","family":"Hiebert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Henry","family":"Njuguna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Neil","family":"Gupta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John W.","family":"Ward","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lewis Rowland","family":"Roberts","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ansumana Sandy","family":"Bockarie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yaw Asante","family":"Awuku","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dorcas","family":"Obiri-Yeboah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0287580.ref001","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hepatitis C. 2022 24 June"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0287580.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-1253(21)00472-6","article-title":"Global change in hepatitis C virus prevalence and cascade of care between 2015 and 2020: a modelling study","volume":"7","author":"S Blach","year":"2022","journal-title":"The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology."},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0287580.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1002\/cld.783","article-title":"Epidemiology of Hepatitis C","volume":"12","author":"SM Jafri","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken)."},{"issue":"S1","key":"pone.0287580.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1002\/hep.31288","article-title":"Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma","volume":"73","author":"KA McGlynn","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hepatology"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref005","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2021","journal-title":"Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021: accountability for the global health sector strategies 2016\u20132021: actions for impact."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4314\/gmj.v52i1.1","article-title":"Hepatitis C virus infection in Ghana: time for action is now","volume":"52","author":"K. Tachi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ghana Medical Journal"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0287580.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"910","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-1253(17)30249-2","article-title":"Hepatitis C in sub-Saharan Africa: the current status and recommendations for achieving elimination by 2030","volume":"2","author":"MW Sonderup","year":"2017","journal-title":"The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology."},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref008","volume-title":"Towards ending viral hepatitis","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2016"},{"issue":"44","key":"pone.0287580.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4959","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v24.i44.4959","article-title":"Hepatitis elimination by 2030: progress and challenges","volume":"24","author":"Y Waheed","year":"2018","journal-title":"World journal of gastroenterology"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0287580.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.3961\/jpmph.21.151","article-title":"Trends of the Global Hepatitis C Disease Burden: Strategies to Achieve Elimination.","volume":"54","author":"N Brunner","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Prev Med Public Health."},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref011","volume-title":"Global health sector strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2022\u20132030.","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2022"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/S0618-8278(19)31493-8","article-title":"Global timing of hepatitis C virus elimination: estimating the year countries will achieve the World Health Organization elimination targets","volume":"70","author":"H Razavi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Hepatol"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0287580.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"693","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-1253(21)00224-7","article-title":"Hepatitis C virus in sub-Saharan Africa: a long road to elimination","volume":"6","author":"R Shah","year":"2021","journal-title":"The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-016-1708-7","article-title":"Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"16","author":"AA Agyeman","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref015","author":"Ministry Of Health","journal-title":"National Policy On Viral Hepatitis"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/2049-3258-72-39","article-title":"Metaprop: a Stata command to perform meta-analysis of binomial data.","volume":"72","author":"VN Nyaga","year":"2014","journal-title":"Archives of Public Health"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0287580.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e015748","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-015748","article-title":"Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"7","author":"JJ Bigna","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref018","year":"2022","journal-title":"National Blood Service Ghana. Are you eligible to give blood"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-021-05827-z","article-title":"Seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus infection among blood donors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"EA Lake","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-019-4699-3","article-title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis among blood donors in Mali","volume":"19","author":"A Jary","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0287580.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1577","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.20-0601","article-title":"Distribution and Incidence of Blood-Borne Infection among Blood Donors from Regional Transfusion Centers in Burkina Faso: A Comprehensive Study","volume":"104","author":"N Wongjarupong","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0287580.ref022","first-page":"132","article-title":"Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Cirrhosis of the Liver in Accra, Ghana.","volume":"39","author":"A Blankson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Ghana Medical Journal."},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287580.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.4314\/ahs.v15i3.2","article-title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections among pregnant women in the Asante Akim North Municipality of the Ashanti region, Ghana; a cross sectional study.","volume":"15","author":"R Ephraim","year":"2015","journal-title":"African health sciences."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-015-2389-7","article-title":"High prevalence of hepatitis B and poor knowledge on hepatitis B and C viral infections among barbers: a cross-sectional study of the Obuasi municipality, Ghana","volume":"15","author":"P Adoba","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC public health."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref025","article-title":"Low seroprevalence of hepatitis C among children at the Princess Marie Louis Children\u00b4 s Hospital in Accra, Ghana","volume":"40","author":"KO Duedu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pan African Medical Journal"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref026","first-page":"322","article-title":"The prevalence of positive rapid diagnostic test of hepatitis C virus infection in Ghana","volume":"36","author":"MM Birjandi","year":"2020","journal-title":"The Pan African medical journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-14618-3","article-title":"A nationwide cross-sectional review of in-hospital hepatitis B virus testing and disease burden estimation in Ghana, 2016\u20132021.","volume":"22","author":"YA Nartey","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref028","article-title":"Managing healthcare quality in Ghana: a necessity of patient satisfaction","author":"RA Atinga","year":"2011","journal-title":"International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-020-05937-5","article-title":"An assessment of hospital maternal health services in northern Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.","volume":"20","author":"EK Ameyaw","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Health Services Research"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0287580.ref030","first-page":"14","article-title":"Poverty and Health Issues in the Northern Part of Ghana.","volume":"9","author":"Y Xu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Poverty and Health Issues in the Northern Part of Ghana."},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref031","author":"A. Irving","year":"2007","journal-title":"An ancient practice: Scarification and tribal marking in Ghana"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref032","first-page":"285","article-title":"Chieftaincy succession conflicts in the Bunkpurugu traditional area, North East, Ghana","volume":"7","author":"S Yaro","year":"2020","journal-title":"UDS International Journal of Development"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.5296\/ijssr.v5i1.11008","article-title":"The effects of chieftaincy and land conflicts on the socio-political development of Northern Ghana","volume":"5","author":"FIM Bukari","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Journal of Social Science Research"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref034","first-page":"20","article-title":"Knowledge and occupational hazards of barbers in the transmission of hepatitis B and C was low in Kumasi, Ghana","author":"M Mutocheluh","year":"2015","journal-title":"The Pan African medical journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref035","first-page":"1164","article-title":"The Knowledge of Post Exposure Prophylaxis for Hepatitis B Virus and the Related Factors among Health Care Workers in Accra, Ghana.","volume":"6","author":"VE Senoo-Dogbys","year":"2022","journal-title":"Archives of Occupational Health."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-3215-6","article-title":"Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B: extent of knowledge of physicians and midwives in Eastern region of Ghana.","volume":"16","author":"CA Adjei","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref037","unstructured":"Afihene MY, Duduyemi BM, A-Tetteh H-L, Khatib M. Knowledge, attitude and practices concerning Hepatitis B infection, among healthcare workers in Bantama, Ghana: a cross sectional study."},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref038","article-title":"Injection Drug Use in Ghana","author":"JA-S Beard","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health Post"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-8-33","article-title":"Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study.","volume":"8","author":"AA Adjei","year":"2008","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis."},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2544481","DOI":"10.1155\/2022\/2544481","article-title":"Behavioural Risk for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Infections among a Population of Drug Users and Injectors across Four Regions in Ghana","volume":"2022","author":"C Guure","year":"2022","journal-title":"Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1186\/s12954-021-00510-7","article-title":"High levels of used syringe use and unsafe sex among people who inject drugs in Kumasi, Ghana: an urgent call for a comprehensive harm reduction approach","volume":"18","author":"LJ Messersmith","year":"2021","journal-title":"Harm Reduction Journal"},{"issue":"01","key":"pone.0287580.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.5799\/jmid.700518","article-title":"A Hepatitis C Sentinel Seroprevalence, Cape Coast, Ghana","volume":"10","author":"AK Tetteh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0287580.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e140","DOI":"10.1097\/MPG.0000000000003099","article-title":"Seroprevalence of hepatitis C in children without identifiable risk-factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"72","author":"V Melikoki","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref044","author":"World Health Organisation","year":"2022","journal-title":"Treatment of adolescents and children with chronic HCV infection. Geneva"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0287580.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-1253(19)30046-9","article-title":"Hepatitis C virus infection in children and adolescents","volume":"4","author":"G Indolfi","year":"2019","journal-title":"The lancet Gastroenterology & hepatology"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref046","unstructured":"Owusu-Oduro P. HCV Diagnosis in Ghana\u2013Limitations and Public Health Implications."},{"issue":"24","key":"pone.0287580.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4192","DOI":"10.9734\/BJMMR\/2014\/10606","article-title":"Evaluation of Two Commonly Used Commercial Immunochromatographic and ELISA Screening Kits for the Detection of Anti-HCV Antibodies among Patients in North Central Nigeria","volume":"4","author":"E Bigwan","year":"2014","journal-title":"British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research"},{"issue":"64","key":"pone.0287580.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S457","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-8278(16)00764-9","article-title":"Assessment of Rapid Test Kits to Detect HBsAg and Anti-HCV","volume":"2","author":"G Jargalsaikhan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Hepatology"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0287580.ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2420","DOI":"10.1111\/trf.14204","article-title":"Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus RNA in blood donors with anti\u2010hepatitis C virus reactivity in Rwanda","volume":"57","author":"T Twagirumugabe","year":"2017","journal-title":"Transfusion"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287580.ref050","first-page":"752","article-title":"Dried blood spot for hepatitis C virus serology and molecular testing","volume":"51","author":"E Tuaillon","year":"2010","journal-title":"Hepatology"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0287580.ref051","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/v11090830","article-title":"Hepatitis C Core-Antigen Testing from Dried Blood Spots","volume":"11","author":"MJ Biondi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Viruses"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref052","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1186\/s12992-017-0297-6","article-title":"Access to medicines and hepatitis C in Africa: can tiered pricing and voluntary licencing assure universal access, health equity and fairness?","volume":"13","author":"Y Assefa","year":"2017","journal-title":"Globalization and Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287580.ref053","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-021-07289-0","article-title":"Cost-utility analysis of four WHO-recommended sofosbuvir-based regimens for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in sub-Saharan Africa.","volume":"22","author":"S Boyer","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Health Services Research"},{"key":"pone.0287580.ref054","author":"Ghana Health Service","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ghana\u2019s Health Sector Launches A \u201cStop Hepatitis C Ghana Project\u201d."}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287580","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,24]],"date-time":"2023-06-24T21:05:34Z","timestamp":1687640734000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287580"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Olatunji Matthew","family":"Kolawole","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]},"references-count":54,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287580","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]}}}