Hepatitis C Prevalence in HIV Testing Centers in Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Alemayehu Addisu, Tassachew Yayehyirad, Sisay Zufan, Shimelis Techalew
Primary Institution: Hawassa University
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and what are the risk factors for Hepatitis C infection among individuals presenting to HIV testing centers?
Conclusion
HIV infected individuals had a significantly higher rate of anti-HCV, although most showed no evidence of viraemia.
Supporting Evidence
- The rate of anti-HCV positivity was 10.5% in HIV-infected individuals compared to 6% in HIV-negative individuals.
- HCV-RNA was detected in 9.1% of anti-HCV positive samples.
- There was no significant difference in odds of HCV infection in participants with and without HCV risk factors.
Takeaway
This study found that more people with HIV also have Hepatitis C, but many don't have the virus actively making them sick.
Methodology
Blood samples and data on socio-demographic and risk factors were collected from 800 individuals (400 HIV-positive and 400 HIV-negative) attending HIV testing centers.
Potential Biases
There may be a survival bias due to deaths among patients with viral hepatitis C within six months of ART initiation.
Limitations
Selection bias may have occurred due to lost participants and potential misinterpretation of anti-HCV test results.
Participant Demographics
The majority of HIV-infected participants were urban dwellers (94.7%) and married (48%), with a mean age of 31.7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p = 0.002
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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