Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis b viruses among patients at a health facility in Freetown; Sierra Leone

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) constitute serious public health problems worldwide. In Sierra Leone; information on both viral infections remains scanty. This study estimated the seroprevalence of HIV and HBV infections and a possible co-infection in one hundred and ninety-eight (198) patients seeking diagnosis at a private laboratory in Freetown; Sierra Leone. Blood plasma was collected from each patient after informed consent was obtained. The samples were assayed for antibodies to HIV virus and HBV antigen using appropriate assays. Male patient accounts for 52of the population examined. Thirty-one (31) of the 198 patients examined (15.7) were positive for HIV. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) was present in 17 (39.5) females and 26 (60.5) males. Thirteen (13) (6.6) patients were co-infected with HIV and HBsAg. This is the first documented evidence of HBsAg and HIV co-infection in Sierra Leoneans. Larger population based studies are however needed to confirm the findings

Knowledge; perception of risk and attitude of Sierra Leone military personnel towards colleagues with HIV/AIDS

The aim of this survey was to gain an insight into the level of knowledge; perception of risk and attitude of Sierra Leone Military personnel towards colleagues with HIV/AIDS. Four hundred and fifty (450) randomly selected male and female military personnel including officers and other ranks from six battalions were surveyed with a standard questionnaire. Results of this survey demonstrated a relatively low level of knowledge of HIV and AIDS amongst the survey population as evidenced by the 40and 52of participants stating that HIV is transmitted by mosquito bites and from public toilets respectively. An equally low perception of risk of the infection was demonstrated from the responses of the participants about attitude towards HIV infected colleagues. Three-fourth of the participants indicated that nobody should be informed if a colleague is HIV positive; with almost all the participants expressing their willingness to take care of an HIV/AIDS person in their household. Varying responses obtained demonstrate the necessity for scaling-up HIV education within the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. More resources most therefore be made available to the HIV/AIDS office of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces so that HIV education activities can be extended to all the brigades and battalions