The Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among HIV Positive Patients in Some Hospitals in Rivers State

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are all blood borne pathogens that are still global health challenges and were known to be endemic in Nigeria. Little work had been done on Hepatitis-B and C co-infection among HIV positive patients in the three Senatorial Districts of Rivers State. A case- control, hospital- based study was conducted among subjects from Rivers state University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Zonal Hospital, Bori and Zonal Hospital, Ahoada to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C co-infection in these areas. Three hundred and seventy-five subjects of (10-69 years) and both sexes were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic parameters of the participants. The samples collected were screened and confirmed for hepatitis-B and C using standard techniques. The overall prevalence rates of HBV, HCV and HBV/HCV in this study are 4.5%, 2.1% and 0.8% respectively while the prevalence among HIV positive participants were; 4.6%, 2.8% and 1.1% respectively. Bori had the highest prevalence of HBV and HCV, (5.3% and 4.2%) while Ahoada had the highest prevalence of triple infection (2.1%). The prevalence of HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV/HCV infection was more among subjects within age range of 30-39 years (7.0%, 5.6% and 4.2%) and lowest within the age range of 20-29 years (2.3%, 0% and 0%). Conclusively, the research findings show that the prevalence of hepatitis B and C co-infection among HIV patients in these hospitals are high. Thus, every HIV positive patient should be screened and educated on the danger of co-infection for better management of the patient.