Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody and their associated factors among mothers living in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections are major causes of acute and chronic liver disease and infection by these viruses during pregnancy is associated with maternal, fetal and neonatal health complications. Understanding the epidemiology of these viruses could be valuable to take appropriate preventive measures. Objective: This study aims to determine the seroprevalence and associated factors of HBV and HCV infection among mothers living in Harar, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 461 mothers living in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia from March 1 ­May 30, 2017. The systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Sociodemographic information was collected through face-to-face interviews using pretested structured questionnaires. Five millilitres of venous blood was collected from each study subject and HBsAg and anti-HCV levels in sera were tested using a sandwich third generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data was analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Result: The seroprevalence rates for HBV and HCV infection were 5.9% and 1.1%, respectively. None of the mothers were co-infected with HBV and HCV. Among the potential risk factors, previous history of abortion (AOR =3.7 95%, CI 1.4-9.6) and multiple sexual exposures (AOR =10.6, 95% CI 4.0-27.9) were significant predictors of HBV infection. Conclusion: This study determined that the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among mothers was 5.9% and 1.1% respectively. History of abortion and history of multiple sexual partners were significantly associated with HBV infection. Health education programs on the mode of HBV and HCV transmission, high-risk behaviours and methods of preventions are recommended to raise awareness and reduce the spread of infection

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Hepatitis c virus in newly diagnosed HIV-1/2 positive patients in a tertiary hospital in Portharcourt Nigeria

Background There is a growing burden of Hepatits C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, with worsening mortality and limitations in the treatment of HIV infected persons. This study was done to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to HCV in newly diagnosed HIV patients. Materials and Methods A desk review of laboratory records of serological testing for HIV and HCV performed in the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a one year period, between July 2015 and June 2016 was done. Serologic test results and data of newly diagnosed HIV patients sent for confirmatory screening and routine HCV screening were obtained from the serology laboratory records. A total of 752 HIV positive cases were screened within this period. Laboratory tests for HIV-1/2 are performed using Determine kit (Alere, USA) and Uni-Gold kit (Trinity Biotech), while that of HCV was done using HCV rapid test strip (Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co., Ltd, China and Citrus Diagnostics Inc., Canada).Results Out of the 752 newly diagnosed HIV cases, 2 tested positive to antibodies to HCV. Thus the co-infection rate is 0.3%. HCV and HIV co-infection occurred only in females with 30years being the mean age of prevalence. Conclusion The prevalence of HCV in HIV patients in this study is low. The low frequency of HIV/HCV co-infection may be explained by the fact that the high risk group of PWID and MSM are not so prevalent in our environment

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis c and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection among children in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are major public health challenges in the developing world especially sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus infection among children infected with HIV. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Paediatric HIV Clinic, UNTH, Enugu between July and December 2009. Antibodies to HCV were analyzed by newer generation rapid chromatographic immunoassay method using the Chromatest one step HCV test kit. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 statistical software. The chi squared test was used to test for significant association of categorical variables. A p-value of <0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: One hundred and eighteen children HIV-infected children, aged between eighteen months to fifteen years were included in the data analysis. Eight of the HIV infected subjects were positive for HCV, giving an HIV-HCV co-infection prevalence of 6.8%. Co-infection was more prevalent among males and in those in age group 11-15 years. Blood transfusion, irrespective of frequency (p<0.015), and injections for immunization (p<0.049) were the significant risk factors noted Conclusion: There is need for strengthening of existing preventive strategies against HCV and HIV infections such as screening of donor blood and safe injection practices in our locality

Epidemiologie et caracteristiques relationnelles de l'infection a VIH et des hepatites virales B et C chez les donneurs de sang a Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)

Objectif: Etudier la relation entre l'infection a VIH et les hepatites virales B et C parmi les donneurs de sang a Abidjan; Cote d'Ivoire. Methodologie: Du 09 Juin au 29 Septembre 2000; un depistage du VIH; VHB et VHC a ete conduit parmi les donneurs de sang occasionnels a Abidjan. Des donnees sur les caracteristiques socio-demographiques et comportementales ainsi qu' un echantillon de sang ont ete collectes chez chaque donneur. La serologie VIH; la recherche des marqueurs des hepatites B (Ag HBs) et C (anticorps anti-11CV et ARN viral) ainsi que le dosage de l'enzyme Alaline Amino-Transferase (ALAT) ont ete realises au laboratoire du Projet RETRO-CI sur les serums recueillis chez les participants. Resultats: Sur un total de 1000 donneurs de sang occasionnels; l'age median etait de 25 ans avec des extremes compris entre 18 et 60 ans; 67.5pour cent etaient de sexe masculin; 75pour cent etaient celibataires; 56pour cent residaient a Abidjan Nord et 77.4pour cent avaient au moins un niveau secondaire d'instruction. La seroprevalence etait de 5.7pour cent pour le VIE; de 10.5pour cent pour le VIIR (Agl-lBs) et de 3.1pour cent pour le VHC. Le taux de viremie parmi les sujets VHC positifs etait egal a 71pour cent et la prevalence des co-infections VIH/VHB; VIH/VHC et VHB/VHC etait respectivement de 0.7pour cent; 0.4pour cent et 0.2pour cent. Parmi les sujets VIH positifs; 12.30pour cent (7/57) etaient VHB positifs et 7.02pour cent (4/57) VHC positifs. Le statut VIH positif n'etait pas associe au statut VHB positif (p=0.65) ou au statut VHC positif (p=0.09) dans notre etude. L'elevation d'ALAT (50 UT/1) etait statistiquement associee au statut VHB positif (p= 0;000001). Les facteurs associes a l'infection a VIH: etre age de 30 a 39 ans (RR=2;37 : 1;41-3;98); etre de sexe feminin (RR=3;56 : 2;11-6); resider a Abidjan Sud (RR=l;89 : 1;13-3;16); etre marie (RR=2;4: 1;45-4;01); etre dans un habitat precaire (RR=1;93 : 1;17-3;2); avoir un bas niveau d'etude (RR=3;55 : 2;16-5;83); le multipartenariat sexuel (RR=3;02 : 1;7-5;36); avoir des rapports sexuels non proteges (RR=2;82: 1;14-6;98); avoir un antecedent d'IST (RR=2;02: 1;02-3;98). Les facteurs associes a l'hepatite virale B : etre age de moins de 20 ans (RR=1;76 : 1;02-3;98); etre de sexe masculin (RR=2;33: 1;43-3;8); le multipartenariat sexuel (RR=1;47 : 1;01-2;16); avoir des rapports sexuels non proteges (RR=2;89: 1;47-5;57); avoir un antecedent d'IST (RR=1;96 :1;21-3;17); absence de vaccination contre l'hepatite B (RR=2;89: 1;20-6;95). Conclusion: Il existe des co-infections entre le VIH et les virus des hepatites B et C parmi les donneurs de sang occasionnels a Abidjan. Cependant; aucune association statiquement significative n'a ete retrouvee entre le statut VIH et les statuts VHB positif ou VHC positif dans notre etude

Infection par le virus C des hepatites au Sud-Cameroun : des aspects epidemiologiques originaux

Les auteurs rapportent ici les resultats de trois enquetes sero-epidemiologiques menees au Sud-Cameroun dans la Province du Sud en 1990-1991 a Djoum; en 1993 a Mekas et dans la Province de l'Est en 1994 a Yokadouma. Ces trois regions se caracterisent par une population stable; homogene; divisee en deux grands groupes; le groupe Bantou (Bulus; Kakas; Fang; etc) et celui des pygmees. Il ressort donc de ces enquetes que le Sud-Cameroun constitue une zone de tres haute sero-prevalence VHC. Mais les modes connus de transmission du virus; vectoriel; et/ou des facteurs comportementaux; simples hypotheses aujourd'hui; montrent bien qu'il y a encore des inconnues sur l'epidemiologie de l'infection par VHC en Afrique Centrale

Epidemiologie de l'infection par le virus de l'hepatite C (HCV) en zone forestiere du Sud-Cameroun: resultats de deux enquetes serologiques

Les auteurs ont mene deux enquetes serologiques en milieu rural forestier du Sud-Cameroun en 1990 et 1992. Ces enquetes ont montre un fort taux de prevalence de l'infection par le virus de l'hepatite C; la relative protection des pygmees Baka; l'atteinte preferentielle des bantous; a partir de 15 ans; avec une rupture de prevalence a 40 ans. Ils emettent les hypotheses d'un phenomene epidemique ancien et d'une transmission sexuelle actuelle