Seroprevalence of HBV among people living with HIV in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria.

Cornelius Arome Omatola,Mesach Maunta Maina,Martin-Luther Oseni Okolo,Patience Omebije Adejo,Joshua Idofe,Joseph Abraham Oyiguh

doi:10.4314/ahs.v19i2.17

Abstract

Co-infection of HBV with HIV is associated with significant morbidity and mortality globally. In spite of increasing reports of HIV/HBV co-morbidities in Nigeria, little or no data exists on this subject in Anyigba. Therefore, we determined the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigenemia among HIV positive patients on anti-retroviral treatment programme in Anyigba, Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria. Sera samples obtained from 200 consented HIV patients were screened for HBsAg using the commercial rapid test membrane-based qualitative immunoassay. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on patients' demographic variables and probable risk factors for HBV transmission. Overall, 3.5% of HIV patients were seropositive to HBsAg and the difference between seroprevalence rates and patients' age as well as gender was not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was significant difference between patients' demographic variables such as marital status (p=0.013) and educational level (p=0.004) and HBsAg seropositivity. Patients with a history of surgical applications (p=0.01) and who indulged in alcoholism (p=0.03) significantly had higher rates of concomitant HIV/HBV infection in the study area. Our findings underscore the importance of routine screening for HBV in the HIV infected populations especially in developing countries where the infection is endemic. We advocate for public enlightenment programmes on routes of virus acquisitions with a view to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated HIV/HBV co-infection.

Highlights

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most prevalent etiology of viral inflammation of the human liver[1]
More than 2 billion people are infected with Hepatitis B virus[2,3], with approximately 360 million people being HBV carriers4. sub-Saharan Africa alone has over 8% of the HBV carriers rate[5,6]
Other factors such as poor knowledge of HBV infection, history of intravenous drug use, multiple sexual partners, mouth-to-mouth kissing, history of blood transfusion were noted with higher HBsAg seroprevalence rates the difference between each variable and HBsAg seropositivity was not statistically significant (p>0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most prevalent etiology of viral inflammation of the human liver[1]. More than 2 billion people are infected with Hepatitis B virus[2,3], with approximately 360 million people being HBV carriers. HIV and 10 times more infectious than hepatitis C virus (HCV)[13]. Co-infection of HBV with HIV is associated with significant morbidity and mortality globally. We determined the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigenemia among HIV positive patients on anti-retroviral treatment programme in Anyigba, Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria. Results: Overall, 3.5% of HIV patients were seropositive to HBsAg and the difference between seroprevalence rates and patients’ age as well as gender was not statistically significant (p>0.05). We advocate for public enlightenment programmes on routes of virus acquisitions with a view to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated HIV/HBV co-infection.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion