• African
• Community engagement
• Immigrant health
• Liver disease
• Viral hepatitis

• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
• Female
• Hepacivirus
• Hepatitis B/complications
• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis B virus
• Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications
• Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology
• Hepatitis C/complications
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/epidemiology
• Humans
• Incidence
• Liver Cirrhosis/complications
• Liver Neoplasms/pathology
• Male
• Minnesota/epidemiology
• Prevalence
• Prospective Studies
• Somalia

• African
• community based research
• immigrant health
• liver cancer disparities
• viral hepatitis

Liver enzyme abnormalities are common in HIV patients, and the prevalence varies across the nations. In Nepal, however, prevalence of liver enzyme disorder and the spectrum of these populations are lacking.

The present study sheds light on prevalence and clinical spectrum of liver disease in Nepalese HIV-sero-positive patients.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at OPD/ART, Clinic of Bir Hospital, NAMS. One hundred and forty-four HIV positive patients were enrolled consecutively and their clinical profiles of liver injury were investigated.

Of 144 recruited patients, liver enzyme injury was observed in 82 (56.9%). Majority 61 (42.4%) of these cases had hepatocellular type of liver injury. Opportunistic infections were reported in 18 cases, with 9 (6.2%) TB and 8 (5.6%) HCV. Test for significance of liver injury confirmed the absence of any tendency towards an association with coinfection, CD4 cells, ART regimen, and alcohol consumption (P > 0.05). However, gender significantly linked with liver injury as well as the pattern of liver injury (P < 0.05).

The study revealed high rate of liver injury in a substantial proportion of HIV individuals, stressing that a regular clinic follow-up is necessary for the HIV individuals who are undergoing ART.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are among the most chronic viral infections worldwide. Co-infections with HBV and HCV have become increasingly common among people living with HIV, resulting in a growing public health concern. The primary aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV and their associated factors among HIV-1-infected patients attending the Ngong Sub-County Hospital comprehensive care clinic.

After providing consent, a 5 mL blood sample was collected from each study participant visiting the comprehensive care clinic. The blood was screened for hepatitis B surface antigen and HCV antibodies using chemiluminescence immunoassay test according to the manufacturer's instructions. The CD4 T-cell counts were determined using FACSCalibre machine, while HIV-1 viral load was determined using the Abbott m2000rt System according to the manufacturer's instructions. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information and data on factors associated with HBV and HCV co-infections.

One hundred and ninety HIV-1-infected patients participated in this study: 150 (78.9%) women and 40 (21.1%) men. In the overall study population, the prevalence of HBV co-infection was 5.8% (95% CI, 2.6%–8.9%) and of HCV co-infection was 4.2% (95% CI, 1.6%–7.4%). However, no individual was co-infected with all 3 viruses. HCV was associated with antiretroviral treatment (OR 0.2; 95% CI, 0.0–0.8; P=.036), while HBV showed a significant association with condom usage (OR 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1–0.9; P=.039) and median viral load.

A high prevalence of HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co-infection was reported in this study, suggesting that HIV-infected patients should be routinely screened for HBV and HCV infections, and preventive and control measures should be put in place that include public education on HBV and HCV infections.

• HCV
• HIV
• Hepatitis
• co-infection
• intravenous drug use

Since the introduction of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy and the dramatic improvement in the prognosis of individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, liver disease due to chronic viral hepatitis has become as important cause of morbidity and mortality in co-infected individuals. The objective of the study was to determine the Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the association of the virus with Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus infection. As Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus infections are highly prevalent and they are among the major public health concern in developing countries including Ethiopia investigating this problem is of paramount benefit. Although studies on co-infection of Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus have clearly identified adverse effects of co-infection, the prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus infection and the association with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in developing countries including Ethiopia has not been know for sure.

A cross sectional study was conducted from January 1 to 31, 2010, in Jimma University specialized hospital Blood Bank. The inclusion criteria of the study was adult who donated blood to Jimma University specialized hospital blood bank any time from establishment of the unit until January 2010 and whose record was retrieved. Accordingly 9,204 adults were included of which 6,063 were selected by lottery method. Data on socio-demographic variables (age and sex), laboratory test result for Hepatitis B surface Antigen, anti-Hepatitis C Virus antibody, anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 antibody, and Rapid Plasma Reagin tests were collected using structured questionnaire. After the data were collected, they were entered into a computer and analyzed using SPSS -16 for windows. P-Value of < 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.

The prevalence rate of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and syphilis infection were 2.1%, 0.2%, 2.1% and 0.7%, respectively. Sex and age had statistically significant association with Human Immunodeficiency and Hepatitis B virus infections where females were less likely to be infected. As age increases above 20 years, the risk of infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis B Virus increases. There was no association between Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

the prevalence rate of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections among blood donors in Jimma University specialized hospital were lower as compared to previous studies, in addition there was no association between Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Thus, community based study should be conducted to confirm the relationship of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Southwest Ethiopia
• blood donors