Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis Infections among Patients in a Psychiatric Hospital in Ghana

Benedict Osei-Tawiah,Theophilus B Kwofie,Emmanuel Awusah Blay,Mohamed Mutocheluh,Richard Ephaim

doi:10.23937/2469-567x/1510050

Abstract

In developing countries like Ghana, people with serious psychiatric disorders do not have equal access to health care as normal non-mentally challenged people do. Moreover, mental health care generally focuses on physical health screening, health education, and improving access to treatment in primary and secondary care to the detriment of sexual health needs including prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Studies have shown the risk of blood-borne virus infections such as HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus has increased in the last few decades among people with psychiatric disorders. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis infections in patients with psychiatric disorders.

Highlights

Reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that approximately 2.2 million Ghanaians suffer from mental disorders, and 650,000 of that suffer from severe mental disorder [1]
The majority of the study subjects who tested positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis had no history of sex trafficking
The current study shows that people with psychiatric disorders in Ghana are at increased risk of blood-borne viruses and STIs compared to the general population

Summary

Introduction

Reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that approximately 2.2 million Ghanaians suffer from mental disorders, and 650,000 of that suffer from severe mental disorder [1]. These include mental disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Mental health care generally focuses on physical health screening, health education, and improving access to treatment in primary and secondary care to the detriment of sexual health needs including prevention of sexually transmitted infections. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis infections in patients with psychiatric disorders

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion