Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Associated Factors among HIV Positive Adults Attending ART Clinic at Hawassa Referral Hospital, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Fanuel Belayneh

School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1101490                

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B and HIV infections are serious global public health problems. Among the estimated 40 million persons infected with HIV worldwide, an estimated 2 - 4 million (5% - 15%) have chronic hepatitis B virus. This co-infection is common due to shared transmission routes of the agents. In Ethiopia, even though, HBV infection is more common in HIV infected individuals, only little is known about the distribution as well as factors associated with the infection. Objective: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and associated factors among HIV positive adults attending ART clinic at Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2 to July 2, 2014 in Hawassa University Referral Hospital. Samples were taken consecutively to get the calculated sample size of 348 adults living with HIV. Pretested interviewer administered structured questionnaire was implemented. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Result: Among the sample of 348 HIV positive adults, 128 (36.8%) were males and 220 (63.2%) were females with mean (±SD) age of 33.2 (±9.1) years old. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 24 (6.9%) of individuals. The prevalence of HBV infection was 17 (7.7%) among females and 7 (5.5%) among males. About 66% of study participants have poor knowledge regarding Hepatitis B. History of surgical procedure [AOR = 4.6: 95% CI, 1.8 - 11.6] and previous opportunistic infection [AOR = 5.2: 95% CI, 1.1 - 23.2] were significantly associated with the presence of HBsAg. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg was found to be intermediate in HIV positive adults and majority of them had poor knowledge about the disease. We recommend provision of routine screening and vaccination service together with accurate information on risk factors such as opportunistic infection and surgical procedure for transmission of HBV.

Keywords

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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