SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG ADULT HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS POSITIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING 44 NIGERIAN ARMY REFERENCE HOSPITAL, KADUNA

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global public health problem affecting over 3.4% of Nigerians including military personnel who mostly stay far away from their spouses during missions. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) has been associated with HIV and other communicable diseases and adults living with HIV have been reported to be at higher risk of HBV co-infection by virtue of their work and lifestyles. Despite the fact that the likelihood of death from HIV and HBV co-infection is high in developing countries, a knowledge gap exists on the prevalence and risk factors for population groups like the military, due to inadequate data on their risk factors. This study was therefore, designed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV infection among adult HIV-positive patents attending 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (44 NARHK) Nigeria. A cross sectional study involving 428 adult HIV-positive patients selected using systematic sampling technique from Clinical Training and Research Center of 44 NARHK was conducted. A semi structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on patients' sociodemographic characteristics, HIV and HBV related factors such as blood transfusion, needle stick injury, scarification, casual sex, multiple sex partners, tribal.marks and delivery at home. Blood specimens were collected by venepuncture and analysed using enzyme linked immuosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square test and logistics regression at 5%. level of significance were used to determine association between categorical variables and model the risk factors respectively. Age of respondents was 38 ± 9.3 years. About half (45.6%) of the respondents were young adults within the age group 30 - 39 years and females constituted 74.3%. Respondents who reside in the army barracks were 29.7%. Over half of the respondents (56.8%) reside in various parts of Kaduna metropolis while the rest (13.5%) come from outside the metropolis. Almost all the respondents (97.3%) had formal education. The prevalence of HBV and HIV co-infection was 8.6% (Cl = 0.06 - 0.11 ). The identified risk factors for co-infection were: circumcision outside health facility (12.7%), blood transfusion (16.2%), scarification (16.2%), casual sex (48.6%) and local uvulectomy (24.3%). ·Respondents younger than 40 years (70.3%) were about three times more likely to be co-infected. The odds of persons who indulged in casual sex or scarification being co-infected were 2.9, CI (1.7-7.5) and 3.8, CI (1.1-9.4) respectively. Other factors identified were circumcision conducted outside health facility (AOR= 3.0, CI = 1.5 - 5.8), conduct of uvulectomy locally (AOR = 1.7, CI 1.6 - 4.5) and blood transfusion (AOR=4.l, CI=1.4-2.7). HIV and HBV co-infection prevalence rate of 8.6% obtained among adult HIV-positive patients in 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna was high. Casual sex, scarification, circumcision outside health facility, local uvulectomy and blood transfusion were the risk factors identified. Awareness campaigns and health education of the populace on how to avoid these risk factors are recommended.