SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTION AMONG ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT–NAIVE HIV PATIENTS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons are at increase risk ofHepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. Against the background of no data on theprevalence of HAV infection among HIV patients in our environment this study wasconducted. A total of 400 subjects consisting of 200 antiretroviral naive HIV patientsand 200 non–HIV subjects were recruited for this study. Detection of HAV 1gMantibodies was performed for all subjects while CD4 count was performed for HIVpatients only using standard technique. A structured questionnaire was used tocollect data on demography and risk factors. There was no significant difference inthe prevalence of HAV among HIV patients and their non–HIV counterpart (P =0.7030). CD4 count < 200 cells/ul was not significantly associated with HAV infectionamong the HIV patients (OR = 0.195 95% CI = 0.010, 3.678; P = 0.3315). Level ofeducation was the only demography that significantly affected the prevalence of HAVinfection (P < 0.0001) with patients with no formal education having the highestprevalence (40.00%). HIV patients who travelled to HAV endemic countries aresignificantly more likely to be seropositive for HAV infection (OR = 38.200 95% CI= 4.440, 328.68; P = 0.0002) while other risk factors did not significantly affect theseroprevalence of HAV infection among HIV patients (P > 0.05). An overallseroprevalence of 2.00% of acute HAV infection was observed among HIV patientsin this study. Measures to reduce or eliminate HAV infection among HIV patients areadvocated.