Dual positivity of HIV and anti-HCV in the highly infected population of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study looked to establish dual positivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among HIV-infected individuals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Plasma samples from 89 HIV-infected individuals presenting at the Retroviral Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, Nigeria, were assayed for anti-HCV-antibody. Seropositivity of anti-HCV-antibody was detected with ELISA kits. Variables tested include sex, age group, educational status, marital status and occupation. Significant variance (p<0.05) existed between patients with mono-HIV infection and those with dual infection of HIV and HCV. Of these infections, 20(22.5%) had HIV and HCV dual infection, while 69(77.5%) had HIV mono-infection. Higher seroprevalence of HIV was found in females [65(73.0%)] than males [24(27.0%)]. The highest seroprevalence of HIV was found in the age group 41-60 years [41(46.1%)], and the age-group 20-30 years had the least prevalence [19(21.3%)]. Also, females had higher HIV and HCV dual positivity (23.1%) than males (20.8%). The age group 31-40 years in this study had the highest HIV and HCV dual positivity (34.5%), while the age group 41-60 years had the lowest prevalence (12.2%). Regarding marital status, singles constituted most study participants and had a dual positivity rate of 28.6% for HIV and HCV. This dual positivity was higher than those divorced and married, with 20.0% and 14.3% prevalence, respectively. Patients with tertiary education (27.3%) and those employed (41.2%) had a higher prevalence than others. None of these demographic characteristics was significantly associated with HIV-HCV dual positivity (p>0.05) except for occupations (p=0.04). Our study further confirms the dual positivity of HIV and anti-HCV in Rivers State, Nigeria. Planned prevention, screening, and treatment are required to reduce further transmission and morbidity.

Serological Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among Febrile Patients Attending a General Hospital in Emohua LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…The incidence among university students was zero (0.0%). This observation runs counter to a recent study by Okonko et al (2022) that found a higher frequency among patients with tertiary education and a study by Onyekwere et al (2016) that found a higher prevalence among people with no formal education. The numbers here also differ from what they found in their survey, where the prevalence of those without formal education was 4.0%, and those with elementary education was 1.8%.…”

“…The prevalence of HCV Ab and marital status were not related (p > 0.05). This outcome supports our earlier investigation in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Okonko et al, 2022). When compared to the study of , where they discovered a higher incidence among single respondents (4.1%) than married ones (2.2%), this observation was marginally higher.…”

“…Age-specific prevalence was found to be higher in those above the age of 41 (11.1%) than in those between the ages of 21 and 40 (5.7%) and 20 years (0.0%), but there was no correlation between age and HCV antibodies (p > 0.05). Comparing this to the findings of our previous study in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Okonko et al, 2022) shows that the prevalence was greater in the age group of 31 to 40 years. That contradicts the findings of Jeremiah et al (2008), who found that anti-HCV prevalence was highest in age groups between 21 and 30.…”

“…This number is less than the 22.5% found in a recent study conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Okonko et al, 2022), the 15.0% found in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria (Ogbodo et al, 2015), and the 8.0% and 12.30% found in Port-Harcourt and Benin, respectively (Nwannadi et al, 2012). The figures reported by Ayolabi et al (2006) in Lagos, Ebie andPela (2006) in Enugu, Nigeria, andStrickland (2002) in Kaduna, Nigeria, respectively, were 8.4%, 14.9%, and 11.9% lower.…”

Evidence of Hiv/HCV Coinfection Among People Living With Hiv/Aids Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria

“…Its endemicity has long been validated in Nigeria, but there is less information about its epidemiology (Riou et al, 2016; Abeni et al, 2020; Okonko & Ernest Nwagwu, 2023). There is an established relationship between HIV positivity and the progression of HCV infection; dual positivity with HIV influences the clinical outcome of HCV infection (Villano et al, 1999; Thomas et al, 2000; Sulkowski & Thomas, 2003; Ogbodo et al, 2015; Okonko et al, 2022). The alarming statistics have made it crucial that studies be also done to ascertain the HIV/HCV coinfection prevalence in the country and host factors which may influence the coinfection (Cookey et al, 2021).…”