Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Infections Among HIV/AIDS Patients Attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among HIV/AIDS patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. A hundred and fifty HIV patients attending the HIV Clinic at the hospital were screened for hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) and anti-HCV. Twenty-four out of the one hundred and fifty patients tested positive to hepatitis, giving an overall prevalence of 16%. There was no record of hepatitis B and C co-infection among the HIV patients, however, 19(12.67%) and 5(3.33%) of the patients tested positive to hepatitis B and C, respectively. Hepatitis B was more prevalent than hepatitis C, and the limited knowledge about hepatitis among the respondents was a predisposing risk factor (p=0.001) to the infection. HIV-hepatitis co-infection increases the risk of life-threatening complications and may also complicate HIV treatment and management. As a result, it is important to routinely screen HIV patients for hepatitis B and C in order to improve quality of life through early detection and proper treatment/management using appropriate drug regimens.