Hepatitis B and C Co-Infection among HIV Pregnant Women and Fetal Outcome in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The shared route of transmission could suggest that many HIV positive clients may also be at risk of HBV and HCV infections. HIV co infection with HBV and or HCV may further worsen the outcome for the mother of the infant with a more rapid clinical and immunological progression. The magnitude of this impact of HIV co infection with HBV and or HCV on pregnancy outcome is an important topic of research. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine the magnitude of Hepatitis B and C co-infection among HIV positive pregnant women and fetal outcome in JUTH. Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out among 150 HIV positive pregnant women seen at the PMTCT clinics of Jos University Teaching Hospital. The women were screened for hepatitis B and C virus infection at enrollment, CD4 count levels were also determined. The women were followed up to delivery to evaluate the pregnancy outcome. All relevant data including the socio-demographic information, obstetric history, past medical history and the viral hepatitis results, CD4 counts levels, and pregnancy outcome were collected and analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Chicago Illinois. Results: Of the 150 studied subjects, 7(4.7%) and 1(.7%) respectively were seropositive for hepatitis B and C virus infection. There was no maternal nor neonatal death. No woman had triple infections. 137(91.3%) pregnant women were followed up to delivery for birth outcome. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection (4.7%) is relatively common in our environment. Hepatitis C virus infection (0.7%) is however less common. There is no difference in birth outcome between women on HAART with HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co infection and other women.