Screening for Hepatitis B Virus among HIV Infected Women Seeking Antiretroviral Therapy at National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic and well documented in different locations of Nigeria among different sub-groups. Information regarding the prevalence of HBV in HIV infected women is scarce especially in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.

Aim: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among HIV infected women seeking for antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out in our laboratory from May, 2017 to March, 2019 among 1,386 recruited HIV infected women that were screened for HBsAg. Positive samples were confirmed using ELISA. Their socio-demographic data were collected using a questionnaire and written informed consent was obtained prior to study. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution table and SPSS (version 20.0).

Results: Out of the 1,386 HIV infected women tested, 114 were seropositive for HBV infection giving an infection prevalence of 8.2%. The highest prevalence (2.2%) was observed at age group 25 – 29 years and followed by (1.7%) at age groups of 20 – 24 and 35 – 39 years.

Conclusion: This finding confirms high endemic of HBV infection. We recommend that HIV infected women should be routinely screened for HBV as part of ART commencement requirement.