Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Syphilis among VCT and PICT Clients in St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: - Syphilis, HIV and HBV are the most common public health problems in Sub-Saharan countries. Ethiopia is among the countries where syphilis, HIV and HBV infections are highly prevalent. These infections are interrelated, since syphilis enhances HIV and, HBV infection is complicated by HIV co-infection. Although syphilis, HBV and HIV have the similar route of transmission, screening services for syphilis and HBV are not common in most of the voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCT). Therefore, more information is required on prevalence of HBV and syphilis in VCT centers, and the rate of co-infection of syphilis and HBV in HIV positive individuals.
Objectives: To assess sero-prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis among provider initiated counseling and testing (PICT) and VCT clients. It is designed to determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and syphilis among HIV positive and negative and co-infection of these infections with HIV. Hepatitis B virus infections and HIV are highly
prevalent and they are among the major public health concern in
developing countries including Ethiopia investigating this problem is of paramount benefit.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to February 2012 in St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. 292 consecutive samples were collected using convenient sampling method from PICT and VCT clients. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors were collected using a questionnaire. Blood specimen was tested for the presence Hepatitis B surface antigen using commercial test kits and syphilis serology was examined using rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and the data
was analyzed using version16 SPSS (statistical package for the social science) software.
Results The prevalence of HIV was 8/292 (2.7%), HBsAg was 43/292 (14.7%), and syphilis was 5/292(1.7%). HBs antigen prevalence among HIV positive clients was 2/8 (25%) while among HIV negative was 41/287 (14.3%). All HIV positive clients were negative for syphilis. Sex statistically affects HBV infection (p=0.02), but there was no significant association with syphilis.
Conclusion: In this study syphilis prevalence was low. But a substantial percentage of the attendants seen in the PICT and VCT centers have HBV and HIV infections, which otherwise would remain undiagnosed without serological screening.
Recommendation: Therefore, strong HBV control strategies should be designed parallel with HIV and actions should be taken to avert the extent of the problem including provision of better health education, screening services in PICT and VCT centers and provision of vaccination for HBV.
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Hepatitis B,Syphilis,PICT clients, VCT clients