Prevalence and factors associated with Epstein - Barr virus infection among children in northern Uganda
| dc.contributor.author | Chara, Charles | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-27T12:34:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-27T12:34:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-11-14 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted to the directorate of research and graduate training in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of master of public health of Muni University | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in infection-related cancers such as Burkitt lymphoma (BL). However, the epidemiology of EBV in children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains poorly understood. This study examined EBV seropositivity and genome prevalence in children from Northern Uganda. Method: A nested cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2024 and March 2025, enrolling 101 participants. Plasma samples from apparently healthy children were analysed using a dual-testing strategy involving Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for EBV infection. Socio-demographic data were collected and analysed using bivariate and multivariable Poisson regression with robust variances and analysis of covariance, with significance at P < 0.05. Results: EBV seroprevalence was 36.7% (95% CI: 26– 48), and genome prevalence by PCR was 27.8% (95% CI: 18.9 – 39.0). EBV viral load results had negligible effect sizes (group means: 0.977 in PCR positive vs 0.805 in PCR negative) and not significantly associated with EBV serology results (95% CI 0.81– 1.153). PCR positivity was associated with sex, tribe, malaria exposure, and household structure. Male children had lower PCR positivity than females (aPR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.16–0.99). Acholi (aPR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.45) and Lugbara (aPR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.04–0.7) tribes showed lower PCR positivity rates than the Alur. Children with no malaria exposure (aPR = 5.9, 95% CI 1.29–26.98) and living with one parent (aPR = 4.6, 95% CI 1.31–16.13) were linked to higher PCR positivity. By EBV serology, tribe and guardian education were key factors. Acholi (aPR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.11–0.68), Lugbara (aPR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.04–0.80), and Aringa (aPR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.93) tribes exhibited lower seropositivity rates. Guardians with no formal education were associated with higher seropositivity (aPR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.18–9.18). Conclusion: These results highlight the burden of EBV infection in Northern Uganda and also shed light on the dynamic transmission patterns influenced by sociocultural, environmental, and possibly genetic factors. Future longitudinal studies may be necessary to evaluate the mechanisms driving the observed associations. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Chara, C. (2025). Prevalence and factors associated with Epstein - Barr virus infection among children in northern Uganda (Unpublished graduate dissertation). Muni University, Arua, Uganda | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/898 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Muni University | |
| dc.subject | Epstein - Barr virus infection | |
| dc.subject | Children | |
| dc.subject | Northern Uganda | |
| dc.title | Prevalence and factors associated with Epstein - Barr virus infection among children in northern Uganda |