Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Among Individuals Presenting to HIV Testing Centers, Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), either alone or in combination with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), constitutes a major public health concern. However, information is scarce regarding the rate of HIV-HCV co-infection in Ethiopia where HIV is prevalent.

Objectives:This study was conducted to describe the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in people with and without HIV infection.

Methods:Blood samples and data on socio-demographic and risk factors for HCV infection were collected from consecutive 400 HIV- positive and 400 HIV- negative individuals attending HIV testing centers in Hawassa city, from October to December, 2008. All sera were tested for antibody to HCV infection (anti-HCV) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera positive for anti-HCV were further tested for viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) levels using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The rate of anti-HCV positivity was 10.5% in the HIV- infected individuals compared with 6% in the HIV negative group (p = 0.002). HCV-RNA was detected in 9.1% of anti-HCV positive samples and rates were comparable between HIV- infected and HIV- non-infected individuals. There was no significant difference in odds of HCV infection in participants with and without HCV risk factors in either HIV sero-group.

Conclusions: HIV infected individuals had significantly higher rate of anti-HCV although most of them showed no evidence of viraemia.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: While priority should be given for HIV infected patients, testing those with anti-HCV for HCV-RNA remains important.