Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B and C Virus Co-Infection among Women Attending Antiretroviral Therapy Clinic in Yola, Nigeria
Introduction: Viral hepatitis represents a significant challenge to public health worldwide. Women living with HIV are at heightened risk of coinfection with hepatitis B and C due to their increased risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens through medical interventions, potentially leading to se...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pasteur Institute of Iran
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-670-en.html |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Viral hepatitis represents a significant challenge to public
health worldwide. Women living with HIV are at heightened risk of coinfection
with hepatitis B and C due to their increased risk of exposure to
bloodborne pathogens through medical interventions, potentially leading to
severe health outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality, and
public health impacts through maternal transmission. This study aimed to
estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus co-infection among
women living with HIV attending the ART clinic in Modibbo Adama
University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Nigeria. These findings will inform the
development and improvement of testing, vaccination, and treatment
programs to enhance health outcomes and quality of life for this population.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to
September 2023 using a convenience sampling method to recruit 360 women
aged 18 years and above attending the ART clinic. Data on sociodemographic
characteristics and potential risk factors for HBV/HCV
infection were collected with a structured questionnaire. The seroprevalence
of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies was determined with Rapid Diagnostic
Test (RDT) strips from Micropoint. Results: Among the 360 HIV-positive
women tested, 9.2% (33) were co-infected with HBV, 2.2% (8) were coinfected
with HCV, and 0.3% (1) had co-infection with HBV, HCV, and
HIV. The prevalence of HBV co-infection was highest among women aged
39-48 (9.6%), while HCV co-infection was most prevalent in those aged 49
and above (3.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed that blood
transfusion and having multiple sexual partners were significantly associated
with HIV/HBV co-infection (P-value = 0.002). Conclusion: This study
identified a notable prevalence of HBV (9.2%) and HCV (2.2%) co-infection
among women living with HIV, underscoring the public health significance
due to the potential for increased morbidity and mortality. Further studies
should employ molecular techniques like PCR to confirm active infections
and assess viral loads. This information is crucial for guiding treatment
decisions and improving clinical outcomes for this vulnerable population. |
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| ISSN: | 2345-5349 2345-5330 |