HIV and hepatitis C virus coinfection Cameroon [letter]

Coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is now a major public health concern worldwide owing both to its high prevalence (4-5 million persons of 40 million infected by HIV) and to interactions between the 2 diseases in terms of their diagnosis natural course and treatment. Although Africa is the continent by far the most badly affected by both HIV and HCV infections data on coinfection in the general population are lacking. In Cameroon a central African country the HCV seroprevalence is among the highest in the world (13.8%). We have also reported a high seroprevalence of HIV in a general population of southern Cameroon (7.4%) and especially in young women (22.5%). Here we investigated the prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection in this population. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2001 in 3 villages of the East Province of Cameroon (250 km from Yaounde the capital city). The study methods the baseline characteristics of the participants and the HIV seroprevalence have been described in detail elsewhere. Briefly all inhabitants >15 years of age were eligible for the survey. After giving their informed consent the participants were interviewed by using a standard verbal questionnaire in French or in a local language during door-to-door visits. (excerpt)