Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among HIV Patients Attending Limi Hospital, Abuja

Abstract

Hepatitis B (HBV) is one of the commonest and wide spread infections of humans and it is most prevalent in developing countries, including Nigeria. The disease is closely related to HIV, with one influencing the other in no small measure. This study aims at determining the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among HIV positive patients attending Limi hospital in the Central Area of Abuja. A total of 250 HIV patients were screened for HBsAg, using rapid monochromatic test strip to determine the presence or absence of HBsAg in the samples. Of the 250 serum samples screened, 35 were positive for HBsAg, giving an overall prevalence of 14.0%. The highest prevalence rate (19.4%) was recorded among patients within the age group of 51-60 years, while the lowest prevalence of 12.3%was recorded among patients within the age group of 21-30 years. The prevalence was also higher in the female population (14.3%) than in the male population (13.6%). The prevalence of the disease with respect to socioeconomic status of the patients showed highest prevalent rate (22.34%) among people with low socioeconomic status, followed by a prevalence rate of 18.18% and 3.96% among people with middle and high socio-economic status, respectively. The prevalence based on knowledge of the patients about the infection showed 20.43% prevalence among people that were not aware and 10.19% prevalence among people that were aware. The prevalence of the infection in this study is statistically related to all the parameters tested, i.e. Age, Sex, Social status and knowledgeability of the subjects about the infection. The study here, thus confirms a high prevalence of HBV infection among the studied population. Public enlightenment, routine diagnosis and proper treatment of infected people are recommended for the public in general, and among immunocompromised patients in particular.