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Sex Transm Infect 2008;84:37-41 doi:10.1136/sti.2007.027326
  • Epidemiology

Hepatitis B virus infection among people attending the voluntary counselling and testing centre and anti-retroviral therapy clinic of St Paul’s General Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  1. T Shimelis1,
  2. W Torben2,
  3. G Medhin2,
  4. M Tebeje3,
  5. A Andualm4,
  6. F Demessie5,
  7. A Mulu6,
  8. B Tegbaru3,
  9. S Gebre-Selassie7
  1. 1
    Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
  2. 2
    Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  3. 3
    National HIV Laboratory, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  4. 4
    St Paul’s General Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  5. 5
    School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
  6. 6
    Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Gonder University, Gonder, Ethiopia
  7. 7
    Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  1. Mr T Shimelis, Hawassa University, PO Box 27799/1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; techalew03{at}yahoo.com
  • Accepted 26 August 2007
  • Published Online First 5 September 2007

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its risk factors among people attending the HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centre and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at St Paul’s General Specialised Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on consecutive attendees from 24 January 2007 to 15 February 2007. Blood samples and data on sociodemographic and HBV risk factors were collected from 620 individuals (384 VCT and 236 HIV-infected ART clinic clients). Sera were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).

Results: The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc in VCT clients was 5.7% and 44.8%, respectively. Among HIV-infected persons, 3.9% were seropositive for HBsAg. There was no significant difference in HBsAg or anti-HBc seropositivity between HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects. Anti-HBc positivity was significantly higher in men, in the age range 40–49 years, and in subjects with a history of catheterisation.

Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence and similar distribution of HBV infection in HIV-positive and HIV-negative people. However, with the emphasis given to HIV-positive cases, screening for HBV infection is important.

Footnotes

  • Funding: The study was financially supported by Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University. Reagents for screening HBV infection were supplied by Biomerieux Company and International Clinical Laboratory.

  • Competing interests: None.

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