Publication Date: 2024/01/18
Abstract: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus are global health problems that have negative effects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The co-existence of HBV, HCV and HIV is life threatening, with a high fatality rate especially in gestation, where transmission occurs vertically and this gives rise to fatal and neonatal hepatitis. There is paucity of data on these viral infections among HIV pregnant women with HIV/AIDS. The study was set out to retrospectively determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women with HIV/AIDS attending antenatal clinic in FCT using selected secondary hospitals comprising of all pregnant women that attended antenatal clinic from January, 2019 to December,2021. The study population comprised of 686 HIV pregnant women seen within the period, out of 27,013 women that attended antenatal clinic. Their data were extracted, which include their age, level of education, occupation, HBV and HCV status, religion. The study showed intermediate endemicity for HBV as 3.9% with no positive result for HCV. 83.0% were negative for HBV, while 13.0% had no records. The age group of 31 – 35 had the highest number of population (39%), and highest number of HBV positive women while 20 -25 had the lowest (7.7%) with no HBV positive, others are 36 -45 (5), 26 – 30 (7).. Out of the total number that are HBV positive, all are married, with 13 having passed through tertiary education, while 14 stopped at secondary level. Majority of the women are business women (58.1), while housewife, teachers, students, civil servants and others are 19.1%,2.9%,3.3%,16.1% and ).3% respectively with a majority being Christians (84.0%), others are Islam (15.9%). The findings of this study indicates that infections with viral hepatitis is a common public health concern therefore should not be overlooked as there is need for a continuous campaign to enlighten and reduce the spread.
Keywords: Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Pregnant Women, HIV/AIDS, Health.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10526707
PDF: https://ijirst.demo4.arinfotech.co/assets/upload/files/IJISRT24JAN375.pdf
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