Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and co-infections among antenatal women in a tertiary institution in south-east Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS are a major public health concern owing to both their prevalence and propensity to affect offspring through vertical transmission.
Aim: The aim was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and co‑infections among antenatal women in Enugu, South‑East Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of antenatal women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South‑East Nigeria from May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2008. A pretested data extraction form was used to obtain data on sociodemographic variables and screening test results from the antenatal records. The analysis was carried out with SPSS version 17 (Chicago, IL, USA).
Results: A total of 1239 antenatal records was used for the study. The seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis among the antenatal women were 12.4%(154/1239), 3.4%(42/1239), 2.6%(32/1239), and 0.08%(1/1239), respectively. The HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co‑infection prevalence rates were 0.24%(3/1239) and 0.14%(2/1239), respectively. There was no HBC and HCV co‑infection among both HIV positive and negative antenatal women. There was no statistically significant difference in HBV and HCV infection between the HIV positive and negative antenatal women. The only woman that was seropositive for syphilis was also positive to HIV.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis is still a challenge in Enugu. Community health education is necessary to reduce the prevalence of this infection among the most productive and economically viable age bracket.

Keywords: Antenatal women, Co‑infection, Human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis C virus, Hepatitis B virus, Seroprevalence, Syphilis