Abstract

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) among HIV infected persons is a major public health problem in Nigeria. The increasing number of people living with HIV in Nigeria has presented the health care system with new co-morbid infections such as HBV and HCV. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among HIV/AIDS patients attending Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos Plateau State Nigeria. The study was a retrospective study that reviewed all clinical case records of HIV/AIDS patients seen from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December, 2016. Information such as age, sex, marital status, occupation, educational level, hepatitis B and C status, CD4 T lymphocyte count, signs and symptoms were retrieved using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed and presented in simple percentage while Chi-square test was used to test for associations between variables at P<0.05. According to the results, more than two-third of the patients (1051, 68.10%) were females and 576 (37.30%) were in the age group of 38-47 years with a mean age of 42.60±9.9 years. The prevalence of HBV was 56.70% while HCV was 30.30%. In addition, both HBV and HCV were significantly found among HIV infected females compared to HIV infected males. The mean CD4 cells/µl for HBV positive was 500.48±101.81 while HCV positive was 557.33±121.76. The study showed the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among the HIV infected patients. Therefore routine screening for hepatitis B and C markers among HIV patients should be carried out regularly.

Key words: Prevalence, HIV/AIDS patients, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, CD4 count, Bingham University.