TITRE

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibody and its co-infection with HIV in the Abang Minko’o area of the South region of Cameroon

AUTEURS

Valirie Ndip Agbor ; Awazi Bih ; Kemengne Jules Betrand ; Tayou Tagny Claude ; Ndembi Nicaise ; Dora Mbanya

REFERENCES

CaHReF 20116, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL051

EMAIL
nvagbor@gmail.com
ABSTRACT

Co-infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now a public health concern. Hepatitis-related liver disease is the leading cause of non-AIDS related death among HIV/AIDS patients. Data on the prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection in the general Cameroonian population is sparse. We carried out this study to evaluate the magnitude of and risk factors associated with HCV/HIV co-infection in this area.

Analytic cross sectional study carried out from November 2014 to April 2015. Consenting participants aged ≥ 12 years, and regularly resident in Abang Minko’o for at least three months were included in the study. Data was collected unto a pre structured questionnaire. Blood samples collected from the participants were screened for HIV using DETERMINE® HIV1/2a (Alere; Bedfordview, South Africa), IMMUNOCOMB® II HIV 1&2 BiSpot (Organics, Yavne, Israel) and MUREX HIV Ag/Ab Comboa (DiaSorin; Saluggia, Italy). Samples were also screened for the presence of anti-HCV antibody using IMMUNOCOMB® II HCV (Organics, Yavne, Israel). All positive and indeterminate samples were further tested for confirmation using the Architect anti-HCV qualitative assay (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany). Data analysis using Epi Info version 3.5.3 Level of statistical significance set at p value of 5%.

174 participants were included in this study. There were more males 93 (53.4%) than females 81(46.6%) and the mean age was 30.34 ± 13.26 years (Range = 12-77 years). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 6.3%. There was a significant association between HCV sero-positivity of the participants and a past history of injectable drug treatments (p = 0.01), and minor surgery (p = 0.03). The prevalence of HIV in this study was 6.9%. HCV/HIV co-infection was found in 3 cases (1.7%) and there was a statistically significant difference in HCV positivity between HIV-positive (25%) and HIV-negative (4.9%) participants (OR = 6.38; 95% CI = 1.44 – 28.22; p = 0.006).

The prevalence of HCV and HIV co-infection in the study population of 1.7%. A high prevalence of HCV and HIV were respectively 6.3% and 6.9%. History of injectable drug treatment and minor surgery were risk factors associated with HCV transmission.

MOTS CLES

HCV, HIV, co-infection, Abang Minko’o