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 1 st January, 2012 to 31 st 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.

Adolescence is a time of emotional, physical and psychological development and contributes substantially to the well being of the individual in adulthood. Consequently, understanding their social and reproductive behaviour is of tremendous policy importance. This study was designed to investigate HIV knowledge and safety sexual practices among adolescent girls in Benin-city, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 randomly selected female students in SS1 and 2 from two secondary schools in Benin-city. A semi structured questionnaire was self administered to obtain information on respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HIV and safety practices. A 10-point knowledge scale graded, <5 and ≥6 as poor and good knowledge respectively, was used to measure knowledge of HIV; while a 5-point practice scale graded <2 and ≥3 was used as unsatisfactory and satisfactory safety sexual practices on HIV prevention respectively. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyse the data with level of significance set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 12.70 ± 1.2 years, 50.0% were in SS2 and 65.0% had been in Benin-city from birth. The overall mean knowledge score of respondents was 14.70 ± 4.43 with 60.0%, 20.0%, 40.0% and 70.0% having good knowledge on perinatal/vertical transmission, sexual and parenteral transmission, epidemiological factors and preventive measures respectively. Misconceptions about HIV transmission include: HIV cannot be transmitted through oral sex, HIV can be transmitted by mosquitoes and naked eyes can detect who is infected. In addition, there was a significant difference between class of respondents and their general knowledge of HIV (P < 0.05). Respondents in SS2 were more likely to have good knowledge of HIV than their SS1 counterpart (OR = 3.43 95% CI = 1.461-8.057). Furthermore, respondents whose mothers attained at least secondary school are more likely to exhibit satisfactory safety sexual practices on HIV prevention than their counter-* Corresponding author. K. A. Digban et al. 138 part whose mothers had no formal education (OR = 2.67 95% CI = 0.619-11.493). Conclusions: There were knowledge deficiencies in sexual and parenteral transmission, epidemiological factors of HIV as well as some misconceptions about the transmission of the HIV virus. Therefore, more awareness and health education interventions are needed at the post primary level to curb the spread of the virus.

The prevalence of sickle cell anaemia has been shown to be on the increase in Nigeria. Therefore, preventive measures such as premarital genotype screening have been proposed as one of the ways of reducing the scourge of the disease. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the knowledge and attitude of women of child bearing age in Kuma Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State towards premarital genotype screening. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 296 respondents were sampled through simple random sampling technique and the collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Majority of the respondents 200(71.40%) were between the ages of 15-34 years old and 64(22.90%) of the respondents affirmed that they had a family history of sickle cell disease. In addition, 58.60% of the respondents demonstrated poor knowledge of premarital genotype screening while 57.10% exhibited negative perception towards premarital genotype screening and 63.20% exhibited poor attitude towards premarital genotype screening. There was a significant relationship between respondents with family history of sickle cell anaemia and their knowledge of premarital genotype screening. The study therefore recommends that efforts should be intensified by the governments and health workers in primary, secondary and tertiary level of healthcare deliveries, to raise awareness on the importance of premarital genotype screening in order to reduce the prevalence of Sickle cell anaemia in the locality. Agofure, O. | Department of Public and Community Health, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.

The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of HIV/AIDS related stigmatization, discrimination and coping strategies among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) at University College Hospital Ibadan. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design carried out among 700 PLHIV selected using a systematic random sampling technique from May to June 2010. A validated pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data which was analysed using SPSS version 16. The mean age of the respondents was 40.0 ± 9.40 years and more were females (474, 67.70%). About 212 (30.30%) have experienced stigmatization with verbal insult (138, 65.10%), subjection to ridicule (134, 63.20%) and avoidance by friends (89, 42.0%) being the most reported forms of induced stigmatization/discrimination. In addition, there was no significant relationship of experiencing stigmatization/discrimination by gender (P=0.097). However, more females experienced physical assault than male. Strategies adopted by respondents in coping with stigmatization and discrimination were unmoved 376 (53.70%), prayer 321 (45.90%) and ignoring the person 281 (40.10%). The study reported prevalence of various forms of stigmatization and discrimination against PLHIV. Therefore, there is need for more awareness campaign in communities on the dangers of HIV-related stigmatization and discrimination on the health of PLHIV.