PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B AND C AMONG HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS IN SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA: ADVOCATING FOR SIMULTANEOUS SCREENING FOR THESE VIRAL INFECTIONS

Background: The rate of co-infection of hepatitis viruses with human immunodeficiency virus, though still controversial, is becoming a growing global health concern, principally because each infection affects the course of the other. We investigated the rate of co-infection of these three viral diseases in some states of south eastern Nigeria. Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight (198) confirmed HIV-positive patients (103 males and 95 females) from four (4) hospitals in Ebonyi and Enugu States of Nigeria were randomly recruited for the study between January 2010 and August 2010. Their hepatitis B and C status were determined using commercially acquired reagent strips. Results: Our results showed that hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 17(8.6%) of the patients while 6(3.0%) were positive for hepatitis C antigen. None of the patients was positive for both hepatitis antigens. Co-infection rates of the two with HIV were relatively higher in the males (9.7% and 4.9% for HBV and HCV respectively) than in the females (7.4% and 1.1% for HBV and HCV respectively). There was relative negative correlation between the number of HIV-positive patients that are positive for HBV and HCV, and patients’ age. Conclusion: We are of the opinion that the prevalence of hepatitis antigens, especially HBV, among HIV-positive patients is relatively high. We therefore advocate for simultaneous screening of people for these three viral infections for easy medical management and better prognosis.