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Published Quarterly
Mangalore, South India
ISSN 0972-5997
Volume 8, Issue 1; Jan-Mar 2009
Original Article
Parallel and overlapping Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and C virus Infections
among pregnant women in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
Authors
Bassey EB,
Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria,
Moses, Anietie E,
Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria,
Udo, Sunde M,
Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria,
Umo, Anthony N,
Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria
Address For Correspondence
Bassey EB,
P.O. Box 9011,
Wuse-Abuja, Nigeria,
E-mail: [email protected]
Citation
Bassey EB, Moses AE, Udo SM, Umo AN. Parallel and overlapping Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and C virus
Infections among pregnant women in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Online J Health Allied Scs. 2009;8(1):4
URL
http://www.ojhas.org/issue29/2009-1-4.htm
Submitted: Feb 3, 2009; Accepted: Apr 10, 2009; Published: May 5, 2009
Abstract:
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Background: Risk factors that are associated with HIV infection are also associated with HBV and HCV infections in sub-Saharan
Africa. The HIV-infected pregnant cohort represents a unique population and infection with the hepatitis virus is considered a public
health problem worldwide. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus,
Hepatitis B and C virus parallel and overlapping infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Abuja. Method: Five hundred (500) blood samples were collected from three district hospitals in the FCT and tested
at Wuse General Hospital, Abuja for the presence of antibodies to HIV and Hepatitis C virus, and HBsAg by ELISA technique in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. HIV seropositive sera were confirmed by Western blot. Result: Of the 500 pregnant
women, those detected with HIV antibodies, HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were 42 (8.4%), 19 (3.8%) and 8 (1.6%) respectively. The
overall seroprevalence of HIV and HBV or HCV co-infection was 9.5% while 7.1% and 2.4% HIV positive pregnant women were
specifically co-infected with HBV and HCV respectively. Those within the age bracket of 15-20 years had the highest prevalence of
HIV (13.4%), HBV (5.1%) and HCV (1.9%) infections. Among the occupation characteristics of the women, those of them involved in
trading recorded the highest prevalence of HIV (60.6%), HBV (30.3) and HCV (6.1%). HIV was higher among the married women than
the singles ((8.6% vs 6.5%); with HBV infection the reverse was the case (3.0% vs 9.8%) while HCV was same for both groups. History
of blood transfusion did not reflect a higher rate of HIV and HBV (1.4% vs 9.6%; 2.8% vs 4.0% respectively) unlike HCV infection with
0.5% recorded only among those that had transfusion experience. Conclusion: When monitoring the risk of hepatotoxicity to
antiretroviral drugs among these group of patients caution should be maintained. Moreover, evidence of parallel and overlapping
HIV, HBsAg and HCV infections among this cohort should motivate inclusion of HBV and HCV among the diseases of surveillance in
the national sentinel survey in order to ascertain the bigger picture of these infections in Nigeria.
Key Words: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Abuja, Nigeria
http://ojhas.org