Low HIV, HBV, HCV Seroprevalence and inadequate HBV Vaccination in Sickle Cell Patients in Abakaliki, Nigeria: Urgent Need for Surveillance and Adult Vaccination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i3.856Keywords:
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Sickle cell disease, VaccinationAbstract
Background: Frequent hospitalization, blood transfusion, unsafe care seeking practices, and self-administration of injectable opioid analgesics could pose significant risk of Hepatitis B, C and HIV infections for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) due to chronic anaemia and bone pains. Study evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis B, C, HIV, and HBV vaccination status among SCD patients in Abakaliki.
Method: A case-control study of 244 SCD and non-SCD patients was performed. Blood samples were collected and tested for anti-HBV, HIVand HBsAg. Socio-demographic data, knowledge of HBV infection and self-reported HBV vaccination status were ascertained with pre-tested questionnaires. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fishers exact test.
Result: Seroprevalence rates of hepatitis B, C and HIV among patients with SCD and controls were 3.3%, 0.8% and 1.6% vs 21.1%, 0.8% and 2.4% respectively. Blood transfusion posed the highest risk of acquiring HBV infection. Two patients that tested positive to HIV had history of sexual intercourse without blood transfusion. Awareness of HBV infection and vaccination were low among the patients with SCD. Only 8.2% of the SCD patients had received HBV vaccination. The commonest reason for not receiving HBV vaccination was not being aware of it.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C, HIV infections in SCD patients is low and there are other routes of infection aside blood transfusion. Knowledge of HBV infection and vaccination coverage is low among patients with SCD. Surveillance, patient education, and HBV vaccination are highly needed for this at-risk group of patients.
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