Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis-B Surface Antigenaemia in HIV Positive Patients

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection with HIV is a potential and significant cause of mortality and morbidity in HIV-positive patients. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among HIV positive patients and to identify the risk groups for HIV/ HBV co-infection among these patients. METHODS: The diagnosis of HIV infection was made using Determine® rapid screening kits and reactive samples were confirmed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The marker for HBV was HBsAg which was detected using an ELISA technique. RESULTS: HBsAg was repeatedly detected in 29 (28.4%) of HIV-positive patients. Ninety-eight percent of the subjects were confirmed positive for HIV–1 and 1.9%for HIV–2. There were 32(31.4%) males and 70(68.6%) females aged 20 to 75years (mean +SD: 40+.11.7) .HIV/ HBV co-infection rate was highest in the age group 31–40 years.More males [12 (37.58%)] than female subjects 17/70 (24.3%) were HIV/HBV co-infected, (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of HBsAg in HIVpositive patients.