<b>Studies on Sero Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among HIV Patients attending some Hospitals in Kano</b>

Abstract

Two hundred Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients, i.e. one hundred from Infectious Diseases Hospital  (IDH) and the other hundred from Sir Muhammad Sanusi Specialist Hospital (SMSSH) Kano were screened for Hepatitis B and C surface antigens (HBSAg and HCSAg), from July – September, 2008 using Rapid Test Strip. The result of the rapid  diagnostic test among the patients attending IDH, indicated that 14 (14 %) of the subjects were seropositive for HBSAg, with eleven (25.6%) been males, while 3(5.3%) were females. Similarly at SMSSH, eighteen (18%) of the subjects screened were positive for HBSAg, out of which males were having higher number of co – infection 11 (34.4%), while the females were 7 (10.3%). The entire subjects tested in the two hospitals were seronegative for HCSAg. Furthermore, patients in the age group of 31 – 40 were found to have the highest rate of infection 23.1% at SMSSH and 22% at IDH respectively. Statistical analysis of the results had demonstrated that there was significant difference between infected males and infected females. In  conclusion, there was high rate of HBSAg among HIV infected patients in Kano, while hepatitis C viral infection was rare among HIV patients in Kano.

Keywords; HIV, HBSAg, HCSAg, IDH, SMSSH, Rapid Diagnostic test.