Hepatitis B and C Co-Infection among HIV-Positive Patients Attending Art at General Hospital Kaltungo, Gombe State, Nigeria

Background: HBV and HCV infection, have been found to worsen the health of PLWAS, thereby impairing treatments and management. HIV, HBV, and HCV are transmitted through similar routes and hence the presence of infection with any of them could be a risk factor for the others. Objective: Determine the prevalence of HBV/HCV co-infection in persons with HIV. Method: This was a serological study in persons with HIV. For HBV, the Hepatitis B surface antigen was investigated and the antibodies to HCV for HCV. The study included HIV-positive patients registered with the ART clinic at General Hospital Kaltungo, irrespective of age. Ethical approval was gotten, consent was received from patients, and patient’s information was kept confidential. Prevalence was determined by comparing the total positive test, to the overall study population tested. Results: A total of 170 HIV-positive individuals took part in the study. The study had 59 (34.7%) males with mean age (standard deviation) of 40.9 (11.4) years and 111 (65.3%) females, having a Mean (Standard Deviation) of 37.1 (11.0) years. The result revealed a statistically significant, high negative association between the viral load values of HIV, HBV and HCV co-infection and marital status (rs=-0.812, rs=-0.812, n=170, p=0.000, at α=0.001 significant level) with a 66% degree of variability. Also, the study observed a high positive, significant association within the viral loads of HIV\HBV co-infection and HIV\HCV co-infection (rs=-0.762, n=170, p=0.000, at α=0.001 significant level) with a 58% degree of variability using the Spearman correlation. Conclusion: Co-infection for HBV was higher than that of HCV. No co-infection with all three viruses was found in this study. This can improve the health and treatment of PLWAS, then screening them for both HBV and HCV, must become a part of the guidelines.