Demographic Characteristics and Risk Factors for HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Co-infection in Pregnancy at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Nigeria

O Ochima,Gi Ogbu,Se Adaji,Aj Randawa

doi:10.46912/jbrcp.v3.i1.2020.150

Abstract

Hepatitis and TB co-infection in PLWHA is now a major source of co-morbidity and of public health concern. HIV and Hepatitis are two viruses with overlapping epidemics and shared routes of transmission. The clinical course of HCV is accelerated in patients with HIV with resultant end-stage Liver disease as a major cause of death. Most studies in my environment failed to identify significant risk factors for HCV infection thus making intervention difficult. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among consecutive consenting HIV positive pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of ABUTH-Zaria Nigeria. Relevant information was obtained using a structurally administered questionnaire while Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay Biotech Laboratories UK was used for anti Hepatitis C antibodies assay. Twenty four of the 285 samples tested positive for anti HCV antibodies giving a co-infection rate of 8.4%. Lack of formal education was associated with HCV-HIV co-infection (p <0.05), odds ratio (OR) 2.5; 95%CI 0.97-6.97. The possible risk factors analyzed including previous blood transfusion and injecting drug use were not associated with HIV- HCV co-infection (p>0.05). This study revealed a high HCV co-infection with significant association with non-formal educational status. Improving female education may be one important strategy for its prevention.

Highlights

Hepatitis and TB co-infection in PLWHA is a major source of co-morbidity and of public health concern
Twenty four (24) of the 285 HIV positive samples analyzed tested positive for HCV antibodies giving a co-infection rate of 8.4%
In relation to occupation of respondents, HCV seroprevalence was higher among Military/Uniform personnel with 1 (12.5%) out of the 8 positive cases

Summary

Introduction

Hepatitis and TB co-infection in PLWHA is a major source of co-morbidity and of public health concern. The prognostic value of HCV infection for both clinical and immunological progression is significant at early stages of HIV infection suggesting active management of hepatitis C in individuals co- infected especially for asymptomatic patients whose CD4 count is high, to predict and prevent accelerated progression of HCV and HIV diseases.[4] HCV on its own is an independent risk factor for hepatotoxicity with antiretroviral therapy (HAART).[5] Both HIV and HCV viruses enhances the vertical transmission of one another. Hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded RNA virus in the flavivridae family affecting the Liver It spreads primarily by contact with blood and blood products, unhealthy sexual behavior, intravenous drug use, unsafe injection practices and mother to child transmission.[12] The prevalence of HCV in the general population is 2.4%, it is 4% among pregnant and heterosexually exposed population.

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