HepMig – Pilot Study

Project lead: Dr. Ruth Zimmermann (FG34)
Deputy project lead: Dr. Sandra Dudareva (FG34)
Project coordination: Dr. Gyde Steffen (FG34), Ida Sperle-Heupel (FG34)
Expert Migration: Navina Sarma (FG31)
Project team members: Dr. Anna-Lisa Behnke (PAE), Anastasiya Stepanovich (FG34)
Cooperation partners: various experts from FG28, from research institutions, public health departments on local and federal level, medical services and community organisations
Project Duration: 01.10.2022 to 29.02.2024

Aims of the Pilot Study

• Development of a study design in collaboration with an interdisciplinary group of experts
• Piloting of the study design, and testing for feasibility and acceptance
• Adaptation of the pilot study design for the main study

Methods

• Establishment of a collaborative network consisting of members from community, research, local public health departments and those with clinical expertise
• Involvement of people from the network in the development of the study design through phone interviews, a workshop, and the establishment of an Advisory Board
• Piloting of the study design followed by evaluation of feasibility and acceptability
• Adaptation of the study design based on own evaluation and feedback from the interdisciplinary group of experts to develop the methods for the main study

Summary

Germany has pledged to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the "Strategy to contain HIV, hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) by 2030".

Germany is a low-prevalence country, but there are groups with a higher prevalence for HBV and HCV; among them people born in countries with a higher viral hepatitis prevalence. According to an extrapolation done by the RKI for the year 2013, based on population statistics in Germany and international studies on prevalence in the countries of origin, an estimated 55% of chronic hepatitis B and 25% of hepatitis C infections are among people born in high prevalence countries.

Currently, there is a large data gap in Germany, and information is missing on prevalence among people born in countries with higher prevalence and who have since migrated to Germany. Additionally, more information is needed on risk and protective factors as well as access to prevention and healthcare services. Better data are essential for the implementation of targeted prevention and treatment services and thus for the elimination of viral hepatitis in Germany.

As part of an integrated biobehavioural survey (IBBS), data on prevalence, risk and protective factors, and access to healthcare services for HBV and HCV in populations born outside Germany will be collected nationally for the first time.

So far, health studies in Germany have either failed to or only partially included these groups. Moreover, more evidence is needed on what research methods are best suited for these population groups, in order to gain representative results while avoiding the pitfalls of stigmatization.

For the conception and preparation of the IBBS, a pilot study will provide information on the needs and accessibility of the above-mentioned population groups. On this basis, a study design will be developed and tested in terms of feasibility and acceptance within the framework of piloting and evaluation of the study design.

The pilot study is structured in five work packages:

1. Definition and description of the population groups to be included in the study
2. Development of the methods for the pilot study
3. Implementation of the pilot study
4. Evaluation of feasibility and acceptance of the pilot study
5. Adaptation of the methods and preparation of the main study

In the first two work packages, the RKI collaborated with the interdisciplinary experts who will advise on the population groups to be included in the study, their regional distribution and accessibility to health care in Germany, and on suitable methods of data collection. During a planning meeting on November 18th 2022 best (possible?) practices for this study were discussed and will be included in the further development of the pilot (and main) study.

The pilot study will include two selected population groups in one city and is planned for 2023 . The pilot study will be evaluated, and its results will feed into the planning and development of the main study.

Further information

HepMig pilot study in Frankfurt am Main (study information, flyer and poster)

Migration and Health (partly in German)

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