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CompletedNCT05002907MaHeViUpdated Jun 7, 2023

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B, C and D and HIV Along the Maroni River Bordering French Guiana and Suriname (MaHeVi)

An observational study in Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne. Completed at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-06-07.

Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
2,289
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

MaHeVi is a multicenter, cross-sectional, population-based study which will include 2500 adults in the health care centers / missions located on the 2 sides of the Maroni River. All major inhabitants of the river border between French Guiana and Suriname may participate, after an extensive communication campaign.The main objective is to estimate the prevalence and status of infection with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), D (VHD) and HIV in the general adult population of the Maroni River, border between French Guiana and Suriname. After signing the informed consent and pre-test counseling, capillary blood will be collected on blotting paper. Participants will be interviewed on infection risk factors. Positivity for HBsAg, total anti-HBcAb, anti-HCV Ab, total anti-HDV Ab(for HBsAg positive) and HIV p24 Ag or anti-HIV Ab (confirmed by molecular biology for hepatitis and Western Blot for HIV) will inform respectively on the HBV, HCV, HDV and HIV infection status.

Read the detailed description

HBV, HCV and HDV are viruses with parenteral, sexual and mother-to-child transmission, associated with high morbidity and mortality. They are responsible for the majority of hepato cellular carcinoma. More than 1.4 million people die each year of complications associated with these infections. Most people do not know their chronic viral hepatitis status which leads to frequent late stage diagnosis of the disease. Treatments allow viral control or suppression of HBV and HCV. The knowledge of the status can reduce transmission,early effective treatment and avoid or delay late complications. In South America, the prevalence of HBV varies widely but is high (> 8%) in the Amazon basin. In some areas a third of HBsAg carriers are also infected with HDV, a major co morbidity factor. French Guiana and Suriname are part of the Amazon biome and are populated by a mosaic of communities. The few available data suggest high variability in hepatitis B and C prevalence in the different communities. The Maroni River is inhabited by Maroon (descendants of slaves of African origin who escaped from Surinamese plantations) and Amerindian communities (indigenous). Reliable data prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV are lacking in these remote, mobile and vulnerable populations. The infection risk is high, due to low vaccination coverage against HBV, low screening rate and delayed access to care and treatment. There are no data on HDV in this region. In terms of public health, it is of great importance to explore the epidemic of viral hepatitis in the Maroni population pool because the lack of data is an obstacle to the planning of adapted and efficient health interventions.

This multicenter, cross-sectional, population-based study will include 2500 adults in the health care centers / missions located on the 2 sides of the Maroni River. All major inhabitants of the river may participate, after an extensive communication campaign. After signing the informed consent and pre-test counseling, capillary blood will be collected on blotting paper. Participants will be interviewed on infection risk factors. Positivity for HBsAg, total anti-HBcAb, anti-HCV Ab, total anti-HDV Ab(for HBsAg positive) and HIV p24 Ag or anti-HIV Ab (confirmed by molecular biology for hepatitis and Western Blot for HIV) will inform respectively on the HBV, HCV, HDV and HIV infection status. Positive participants will be analyzed in molecular biology (viral load and genotyping). The results will be provided individually and confidentially to participants; positive patients will receive standard care following national guidelines.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis D
  • HIV Infections
  • Prevalence
  • Epidemiology

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis D
  • HIV Infections
  • Phylogenetic
  • Molecular Biology
03

In context

Hepatitis B

1,045 studies on the registry are indexed under Hepatitis B; 139 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 2,289 is above the median of 365 across 251 observational studies indexed under Hepatitis B.

Browse Hepatitis B studies →

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne is the lead sponsor of 47 studies on the registry; 9 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

General adult population living along the Maroni River in French Guiana and Suriname, upstream from Apatou. All adults (men and women) 18 years or older of both sexes will be able to participate in the study, in French Guiana and Suriname. Participation will be based on volunteering and signing informed consent. The acceptability and diversity of recruitment will be improved by seeking community support through community leaders and local associations and through appropriate communication (radio spots, posters in health centers and public establishments) before the survey.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Planning to stay on the Maroni river for at least 2 months after inclusion
  • Signed

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Consent withdrawal
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
2,289 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples without dna

Groups and cohorts

  • General adult population living along the Maroni River in French Guiana and Suriname

    General adult population living along the Maroni River in French Guiana and Suriname, upstream from Apatou. All adults (men and women) 18 years or older of both sexes will be able to participate in the study, in French Guiana and Suriname. Participation will be based on volunteering and signing informed consent. The acceptability and diversity of recruitment will be improved by seeking community support through community leaders and local associations and through appropriate communication (radio spots, posters in health centers and public establishments) before the survey .

    Other: Questionnaire · Other: Biocollection · Other: Delivery of results · Other: Results and advices on transmission prevention methods · Other: Confirmation of results on a blood test (In the event of a positive result) · Other: Information for care · Other: Monitoring and treatment

Interventions

  • OtherQuestionnaire

    After signing the informed consent sheet, a standardized face-to-face questionnaire will be conducted by the doctor, nurse or coordinator to collect socio-demographic data, lifestyle data, sex life and other potential risk factors and knowledge about viral hepatitis.

  • OtherBiocollection

    After answering the questionnaire, the nurse or the doctor will take a sample of capillary blood from the fingertip on the side of the distal phalanx of a middle or ring finger. The puncture site will be prepared by warming and massage to optimize blood flow and disinfected with a disposable 70% alcohol wipe. After drying, the puncture will be performed using a single use safety lancet. A total of 7 capillary blood spotswill be collected and deposited on the filter paper (each spot is about 50µL of capillary blood), 5 for the study and 2 for the biological collection.

  • OtherDelivery of results

    After receiving the individual biological analysis results, in coded form (results only identified by the anonymity number), at the investigation center and lifting the anonymity by the coordinator of the study in each study center (in Cayenne or Paramaribo depending the country where the inclusion took place) with the help of the correspondance list, the participants' results will be delivered to the referral doctor of each health centre and the infectious disease specialist responsible for each area of inclusion. All positive participants will be contacted if they do not spontaneously come to retrieve their results (within approximately 1 month after result's availability), and invited to come to the health centre to retrieve their results individually and be oriented towards the heathcare circuit.

  • OtherResults and advices on transmission prevention methods

    The results will be revealed by the health centre's doctor/infectiologist, individually and confidentially, with an explanation of the results and advices on transmission prevention methods.Non-immunized patients against HBV will be offered a status determination (Anti-HBs Ab quantification on whole blood sample) and if necessary a catch-up vaccination according to the national immunization schedule.

  • OtherConfirmation of results on a blood test (In the event of a positive result)

    In case of a positive result, the doctor will explain the need to confirm these results on a blood test, prescribe the initial assessment and take an appointment with the infectious disease specialist. He will guide the patient towards accompaniment for the opening of medical coverage rights if necessary and support by an association if desired.

  • OtherInformation for care

    A document with all contact information for a comprehensive and specialized care (professionals and associations for access to medical coverage and support, associations proposing support, general practitioners and specialists) will be given to positive participants. Patient monitoring and treatment will be carried out according to the national guidelines in each country.

  • OtherMonitoring and treatment

    Consequently, all positive participants will be able to be monitored and treated by a specialist of the disease. They will give post-test counselling and will conduct patient follow-up and treatment according to the usual standards of care of each country.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Current active HBV infection

    Current active HBV infection determined by HBs Ag positivity

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  2. HBV infection carrier status

    Acute hepatitis B, chronic active hepatitis B, possible inactive chronic hepatitis B and resolved hepatitis B, determined by HBs Ag and total anti-HBcAb and if HBs Ag is positive by Anti-HBcIgM, HBV DNA and HBe Ag

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  3. HCV infection

    Anti-HCV Ab positivity confirmed by detection of HCV RNA

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  4. HDV infection

    Positivity for anti-HDV total Ab (on HBsAg positive samples only) and confirmation by detection of HDV RN

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  5. HIV infection

    Positive HIV p24 antigen and/or HIV antibodies (fourth-generation combined EIA), confirmed by HIV Ab positivity using Western-blot

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Questionnaire

    To describe social and demographic characteristics of infected people and to identify specific risk factors (determinants) associated with HBV, HCV and HIV infection like unsafe sex practices (early sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, not using a condom, traumatic sexual practices, STDs), body modifications (tattoo, piercing, scarifications or bouglous) performed with unsterile equipment, previous blood transfusion or dialysis, sharing personal hygiene equipment like tooth-brush, razor or nail clipper. This will be analyzed using the responses to the questionnaire.

    Time frame: At Enrollment visit

  2. HBV, HCV and HDV genotyping and phylogenetics

    Viral sequences will be used for Bayesian analysis of phylogeny and phylogeography. Most recent common ancestor, spreading, risk factors and geographical association will be analyzed for all genotypes.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • General Hospital of Cayenne
    Cayenne, 97306, French Guiana
  • Foundation for Scientific Research Suriname (SWOS)
    Paramaribo, Suriname
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 7, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05002907
Lead sponsor
Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
Collaborators
Foundation for Scientific Research Suriname (SWOS) Paramaribo, Suriname
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 12, 2021
Start date
Jan 1, 2018
Primary completion
Feb 8, 2019
Completion
Dec 23, 2019
Last update
Jun 7, 2023

Study contacts

Mathieu NACHER, MD, PhD
study director · Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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