Prevalence Of Hepatitis C Virus Among Patients Living With Hiv/Aids Attending Mercy Specialist Hospital Ahiaeke Ndume, Umuahia, Abia State

ABSTRACT

A total of 82 blood (54 female patients and 28 male patients) samples were obtained from patients attending clinic at Daughter of Mary Mother of Mercy Medical Clinic. Samples were screened for Hepatitis C Viral infection using the rapid one step hepatitis C virus test strip. Out of the fifty four female patients with HIV virus, Nine (16.7%) female patients were positive for Hepatitis C Virus, giving an overall prevalence rate of (26.7%), in male, out of the 28 patients with HIV virus 5 (17.9%) male patients were positive for Hepatitis C Virus. From the finding of the research was observed that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus was higher in those within the age range of 19-25 than in those within the age range of 26-35 and 36-40. The finding in the research work also shows that male and female patients living with HIV virus out of 82 (100%) in this study, 14(17.1%) were Co-infection positive, while 68 (82.9%) were tested positive to HIV virus. It is hereby recommended that secondary prevention activities such as identifying HCV infected persons through diagnostic test, medical management and anti-viral therapy and providing appropriate medical follow-up and promoting healthy life styles and behaviour can reduce risk for chronic infection.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title                                                                                                                                  

 Page

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

List of Figures ﾿ vii

Abstract ﾿

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION ONE

1.1 Introduction ﾿ 1

1.2 Aims and Objectives ﾿ 3

SECTION TWO

2.1 Short History and Biology of the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (Hiv) ﾿ 5

2.1.1 Structure of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). ﾿ 6

2.1.2 Types of HIV Virus and its Mechanism of Replication/Action ﾿ 7

2.1.3 How HIV Spread ﾿ 8

2.1.4 Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infection: ﾿ 9

2.1.5 Preventive Measures ﾿ 10

2.1.6 Management and Control Measures ﾿ 10

2.2 Future Prospects for Production of Hiv/Aids Vaccine ﾿ 13

2.3 Current Epidemiology of Hiv Disease ﾿ 17

2.3.1 Mode of transmission and risk factors ﾿ 17

2.3.2 Pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus ﾿ 19

2.4 Signs and Symptoms ﾿ 20

2.5 Diagnosis of Hepatitis C ﾿ 20

2.5.1 Serology ﾿ 20

2.5.2 Biopsy ﾿ 21

2.5.3 Screening ﾿ 21

2.6 Prevention of Hepatitis C ﾿ 22

2.7 Treatment of Hepatitis C ﾿ 22

2.8 Hepatitis C Virus and Pregnancy ﾿ 23

2.9 Hepatitis C Virus and Hiv ﾿ 26

SECTION THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods ﾿            27

3.1 Study Population ﾿ 27

3.2 Sample collection ﾿ 27

3.3 HCV Screening ﾿            27

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results ﾿ 29

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion ﾿          `34

5.2 Conclusion ﾿ 34

5.3 Recommendation ﾿ 35

References