Sero-prevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B and C co-infection in pregnant Nigerian women living with HIV Infection

Abstract

IntroductionPerinatal and horizontal transmission of Hepatitis B occur in areas of high endemicity as most infections are acquired in the first 5 years of life. Unless Hepatitis B and C infected pregnant women identified, and appropriate treatment provided, children born to these women are at high risk of chronic Hepatitis B (and C) virus infection. The objecive of this study was to determined the prevalence and the factors associated with Hepatitis B and C Virus infection in pregnant HIV positive Nigerians.MethodsA cross sectional study among HIV Positive pregnant women seen at a large PMTCT clinic in Lagos Nigeria. The women were screened for Hepatitis B and C Virus infection at enrollment. HIV viral load, CD4 count, liver transaminases and hemoglobin levels were also determined. Data were managed with SPSS for windows version. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutions Ethical Review Board.ResultsOf the 2391 studied subjects, 101(4.2%) and 37(1.5%) respectively were seropositive for Hepatitis B and C Virus infection. Twowomen (0. 08%) had triple infections. blood transfusion, (cOR: 2.3; 95% CI:1.1 - 4.6), history of induced abortion (cOR:2. 2;95% CI:1.3 - 3.6), and elevated baseline ALT (cOR:2. 2; 95%CI:2. 2;4.2) were significantly associated with HBV. History of induced abortion was the only factor found to be associated with HIV/ HCV (cOR: 1.9;95%CI:1. 3-3.9).ConclusionHepatitis B Virus infection (4.2%) is relatively common in our environment and associated with induced abortion, blood transfusion and elevated baseline transaminase. Hepatitis C Virus infection (1.5%) is less common and associated with only history of induced abortion.

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositivity among Pregnant Women in Kigali, Rwanda: A Cross Sectional Study

“…The prevalence HBsAg in this study was comparable with the findings of previous studies such as 3% in Addis Ababa Ethiopea [22], 3.8% in Abuja Nigeria [23], 3.9% in Dares Salaam in Tanzania [24] and 4.2% in Lagos Nigeria [25]. Contrary, it was higher than the study conducted in India (0.9%) [26] and Tripoli, Libya (1.5%) [27].…”

Prevalence and burden of HBV co‐infection among people living with HIV: A global systematic review and meta‐analysis

“… c Denotes prevalence (total) derived from samples of PLHIV pregnant women among the population group PLHIV (heterosexual and pregnant women) including: Cameroon (2) 9.3%, 14.6%; Cote D’Ivoire (1) 9.0%; Nigeria (1) 4.2%; South Africa (3) 6.2%, 3.4%, 2.1%; Malawi (1) 8.7%; Rwanda (1) 2.4%; Tanzania (1) 6.2%; Uganda (1) 4.9%; Brazil (5) 1.9%, 0.5%, 2.3%, 0.9%, 1.2%; USA (1) 2.9%; Canada (1) 5.6%; Haiti (1) 2.4%; France (2) 6.0%, 6.9%; the Netherlands (1) 4.9%, and Morocco (1). …”

HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection in pregnancy: an epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic review

“…According to Ezechi et al (2014), the prevalence of HBV infection is higher in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and in Southeast Asia, where 8-10% of the patients are chronic carriers; these regions account for more than two-thirds of the global load of HIV. However, HCV is more prevalent in Western countries (Andreotti et al, 2014).…”

“…However, the predominant ways of transmission (intravenous drug use and sexual contact) of these infections are similar in Western countries, whereas in Africa such ways are very different (HIV by heterosexual relationship, HBV by close contact with the family during early childhood and by vertical transmission; regarding the HCV, the ways of transmission are unclear). According to Ezechi et al (2014) only 1% of the population is triply infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV.…”

“…According to Mohammadi et al (2009), infection with the three viruses causes a higher risk of acute or fulminant hepatitis, chronic liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality (Table 3) than infection with only one of these viruses. HCV-seropositive women (and those with HBsAg) were significantly more immunosuppressed (Table 3) than HIV-mono-infected women, based on counts of CD4 cells, of which number were lower in women with anti-HCV antibodies (Landes et al, 2008;Ezechi et al, 2014). Tremolada et al (2008) state that, by early diagnosis and appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic measures, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of vertical transmission of these viruses and also reduce the severity of the damage caused by these infections.…”