Human immuno-deficiency virus infection and hepatitis b virus co-infection: Prevalence among pregnant women in Jalingo taraba state, Nigeria.

Abstract

HIV/AIDs and HBV infection continues to be a global health burden. Mother to child transmission (vertical) remains a source for the persistent nature of both viral infections. This necessitated the study on the sero-prevalence of HIV and HBV among pregnant women attending Taraba State specialist hospital for antenatal care. The study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of HIV, HBV and Co-infection rate among pregnant women attending Taraba State Specialist Hospital for antenatal care. 200 pregnant women within the age range of 21-46years without previous knowledge of a positive status attending Taraba State Specialist Hospital Jalingo for antenatal care were screened for HIV and HBV using rapid chromatographic immunoassays for qualitative detection of HIV antibodies and HBsAg in serum. Of the 200 subjects, 4 (2%) were positive for HIV, 7 (3.5%) for HBsAg and 1(0.5%) gave co-infection. Age based prevalence for 
HIV was 1(1,4%), 3(3.1%) and 0(0%) for age grade 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50years respectively. HBV age based prevalence gave 3(4.2%) 3(3.1%) and 1(3.1%) for the age grades in an ascending order. Only one subject within the age grade of 31-40years gave a co or dual infection. Vertical transmission of HIV and HBV is preventable and interventions such as compulsory screening of pregnant women for HIV and HBV, chemo-therapy and prophylaxis for positive mothers, birth dose vaccine for children born to HBV positive mother as well as restriction from breast feeding has resulted in the reduction of M-T-C-Trate.