Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus is a worldwide public health problem. It is one of the cause of morbidity and
mortality among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. However, data is not well
available on Hepatitis B Virus/Human Immuno deficiency co-infection from my study area.
Therefore, this was aimed to determine the magnitude and factors associated with Hepatitis B
Virus co-infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected adults attending AntiRetroviral
Therapy clinic in Bale Robe Hospital, Southeast Ethiopia from February 1- 28, 2018.
A Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among 300 Human Immunodeficiency
Virus infected adults. Participants were recruited consecutively. Data was collected by a face to
face interview using pre-tested structured questionnaire and card review. Three milliliter of venous
blood sample was collected and examined for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen using Enzyme Linked
Immuno Sorbent Assay at Goba Blood Bank. Data entry was done by using Epi-data version 3.1
and analyzed by using Statistical package for social science version 22. Bivariable and
multivariable analysis was done on variables. The overall prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface
Antigen was 9.7 % (29/300). Those study participants who practiced tattooing were more than four
times more likely to be infected with Hepatitis B virus (AOR=4.34, 95 % CI, 1.21-15.6). Those
study participants who had Human Immunodeficiency Virus viral load greater than 1000 copies/ml
were 5.5 times more likely to be infected with Hepatitis B virus than those with viral load of lower
than 1000 copies/ml (AOR=5.53, 95 % CI, 2.34–13.1). Those study participants who are in
Advanced WHO Human Immunodeficiency Virus clinical stage were also more than three times
more likely to be co-infected with Hepatitis B virus than those with early clinical stage (AOR=3.4,
95 % CI, 1.4 - 8.33). The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection was found to be highly endemic
in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected patients in the study area. Individuals having a
tattooing, high viral load and late World Health Organization clinical stages were significantly
associated with Hepatitis B virus co-infection. Creating awareness to avoid sharing of sharp
objects, regular monitoring of viral load and adherence to treatment of anti-retroviral drug may
contribute towards better clinical management of co-infected adults
