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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 21, No. 3, 2021, pp. 1010-1015
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Bioline Code: hs21060
Full paper language: English
Document type: Study
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2021, pp. 1010-1015
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Detection of hepatitis C virus among HIV patients in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Baeka, Glory Barinuaka; Oloke, Julius Kola & Opaleye, Oluyinka Oladele
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) a major human pathogen infecting millions of individuals worldwide, thereby increasing
the risks for chronic liver diseases and has been discovered that HIV/HCV co-infected patients have a greater risk.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of HCV infection among HIV infected people in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Methodology: The patients were from the ages of 18 and above attending the antiretroviral clinic for over 6 months. The
mean age of the participants was 36.91±8.38. Data were gotten from the 550 patients using a modified questionnaire and
5mls of blood samples were collected through venepuncture into EDTA bottles and spun at 3000rpm for 10 minutes separating
the plasma from the whole blood. The CD4+ count was gotten from the patients’ file and the samples kept at -700C
till analized. HCV antibody was detected using a commercially available third generation kit manufactured by Melsin Medical
Co and statistical analysis was done using a Stata version 16. P value was determined using ANOVA
Result: Total number positive to the HCV antibody was 24(4.4%) of which 8(33.3%) were males, while 16(66.7%) were
females. Prevalence (29.2%) was among patients in the 31–35 age range. The CD4+ count ranged from 22-864 cells/μl with
a mean value of 303.08±194.
Conclusion: From this study HIV/HCV co-infection occurs among HIV infected people in Port Harcourt. The CD4+
count was discovered to be low and was not age, nor gender dependent. HIV infected people should therefore be routinely
screened for HCV.
Keywords
Serology; HCV; HIV; CD4+ Count.
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© Copyright 2021 - Baeka GB et al.
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