Knowledge of Hepatitis B and C among Clients Co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B and C in a Tertiary Hospital in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver that is caused by hepatitis viruses A to G. Approximately ten percent of people living with Human Immunodeficiency virus are infected with viral hepatitis. This coinfection results in a significant increase in liver-related morbidity, mortality, and more immune suppression in PLHIV. This study assessed knowledge of hepatitis B and C among clients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B and C. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2018 to February 2019. The study population was HIV clients seeking care and tested positive for hepatitis B and C in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, Nigeria. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was classified into poor, fair, and good and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi Square test was used to test the relationships between categorical variables and statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Result: A total of 384 clients participated, 272 (70.8%) were females and the mean age was 39.3 ± 9.6 years. Fifty-one (13.3%) of participants had poor knowledge of hepatitis B and C, 39 (10.2%) were aware of the Hepatitis B and C status of their partners. Level of knowledge had a statistically significant association with education (p= 0.042) but none with age group and gender (p=0.87 and 0.93 respectively). Conclusion: There was good knowledge of hepatitis but poor awareness of their partners' status. More enlightenment and partners screening is advocated among the general populace to abate the transmission of this disease