Prevalence and Factors Associated with HIV and Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Co Infection in Children Attended at the Hubert Koutoukou Maga National University Teaching Hospital (CNHU-HKM) of Cotonou

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis B and C share the same transmissions route with HIV. This fact could explain the relative high prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B and C virus co-infection. Objective:The purpose of this study is to determine HIV and Hepatitis B and C virus co-infection frequency among HIV infected children's cohort at Cotonou National Teaching Hospital and identify predicting factors of this coinfection. Materials and methods:Authors performed a descriptive, cross-sectionnal and analytic study covering the periood of 1st of May to 31st of August at the Cotonou National Teaching Hospital which is a tertiary hospital dedicated to HIV infected children follow up and management. Recruitment was exhaustive and sociodemographic, clinical and biological data (Ag HBs, ac HBc) were registered.Results: 31 cases of co-infection were registered among 234 HIV infected children (13.2%). HIV/VHB coinfection was encountered in 12.8% of cases and HIV/VHC co-infection in 0.4%. Through univariate analysis history of blood transfusion was an associated factor and through multivariate analysis, predicting factors of that co-infection were length of HAART (p=0.0375), children's hepatitis B immunization status (p=0.0461) and history of blood transfusion (p=0.0162). Conclusion:This work will contributes to reinforce regular screening of hepatitis B and C co-infection among HIV infected children before HAART initiation and also serve as tool for advocacy for hepatitis B immunization at birth in our country.