title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus co-infection among HIV-seropositive persons attending antiretroviral clinics in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B and HIV infections are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. Understanding the extent of the co-infection is critical to the optimal care of persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV). We determined the prevalence and risk factors of HBV co-infection in PLHIV and assessed the knowledge of health care workers (HCW) in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinics regarding the co-infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted in five ART clinics to obtain data from a systematic random sample of PLHIV in the Eastern region of Ghana from March to June 2012. We used self-administered questionnaires to assess knowledge of HCW on knowledge and management of the co-infection. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used for analysis at 5% significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 320 PLHIV recruited into study, with median age of 40 years (IQR: 33-50 years), 28 tested positive for HBsAg giving an overall prevalence of 8.8%. There were significant associations between HBV infection and being an adult (p=0.004), increasing serum ALT levels (p=0.002) and partner with history of HBV infection (p=0.010). HCW obtained 84.2% (SD± 20.53; 95% CI: 89-98.1) and 53.1% (SD± 35.06; 95% CI: 13.0-88.9) in the "general knowledge" and "management practice" indexes respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of HBV-HIV co-infection was relatively high among PLHIV in Eastern region. Knowledge of HCW on management practices of HBV-HIV co-infection and HBV vaccination coverage among PLHIV were found to be relatively low. Regular trainings of HCW and a HBV vaccination programme targeted at PLHIV should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kye-Duodu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Priscillia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nortey
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Keziah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kofi Mensah
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel Oko
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Sackey
authors.affiliation: Ghana Health Service, Regional Hospital, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana.
authors.forename: Sampson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ofori
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Edwin Andrews
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Afari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Ghana; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; co-infection; hepatitis B virus; risk factors