Occurrence Rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Co - infection among Expectant Mothers Attending Antenatal Clinic in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

The global burden of co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) has a negative impact in Sub-Saharan Africa.When HIV, HBV and HCV co-exist, they become life threatening and with high fatality rate particularly in gestation in which transmission occurs vertically, causing fetal and neonatal hepatitis. The study aimed at examining the occurrence rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co - infection among expectant mothers attending antenatal clinic in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). The study population comprised of one hundred and fifty (150) pregnant women. Venous blood was used in the study and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, and anti-HIV antibodies using commercially available immunoassay test kits. The prevalence of HCV, HIV and HBsAg among the pregnant subjects in relation to age group 21-30 and 31-40 in the study revealed a seropositive percentage of 0.7% and 1.3%. The other groups, however, showed no positive result among the three viruses. Furthermore, 0.7% of the pregnant women in their first, second and third trimester were co-infected with HCV and HBsAg while 1.3% out of 36.7% and 0.7% out of 61.3% of pregnant women within the age groups 21-30 and 31-40 respectively were seropositive for HIV. In relation to gestational age, it was seen from the study that 0.7% of the pregnant women in their first, second and third trimester were seropositive for HCV and HBsAg respectively, while 2% of the HIV seropositive pregnant women were in their first trimester. The overall seroprevalence of HCV, HIV and HBsAg as revealed in the study showed that infection was found to be 2% respectively among the pregnant women. The reduced prevalence of hepatitis B (HBsAg), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection observed in the study among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital may be attributed to the increase in the awareness amongst the general populace in Port Harcourt especially couples about the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B as well as Hepatitis C. In other words, there is reduction in seroprevalence of HBsAg, HCV and HIV which is premised on the efficacy of sensitization particularly on HBV vaccination and preventive protocols for HIV.