Age-Specific Seroprevalence of Hepatitis a Virus in Turkey Between 2000 and 2023: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

<bold>Background</bold>: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis and is primarily transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The clinical presentation and progression of the disease varies according to the age of the patient. Turkey is classified as a moderately endemic country, and HAV infection continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. <bold>Methods</bold>: In this study, a systematic meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate age-specific HAV seroprevalence rates in Turkey between 2000 and 2023. A comprehensive literature review identified 57 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The studies were assessed for quality, and seroprevalence rates were evaluated across four different age groups. Statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software (CMAVersion 3.0) and SPSS (SPSS Statistics 25.0). <bold>Results</bold>: HAV seroprevalence rates were found to be 73.18% in the 0 < 5 age group and 90.90% in the >35 age group. The overall seroprevalence estimated using a random effects model was 64.5% (95% CI: 58.3-70). High heterogeneity was observed among the studies, and the prevalence estimates changed when low-quality studies were excluded. <bold>Conclusions</bold>: This meta-analysis suggests that the increasing trend in HAV IgG seroprevalence in Turkey, especially among young populations, is likely due to the vaccination program initiated in 2012. Furthermore, the heterogeneity observed among regions highlights the importance of regional public health strategies. Future studies should focus on providing more detailed data to evaluate the long-term effects of vaccination and to explain regional differences in HAV seroprevalence.<br />