Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Prevalence and Burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus Co-infection in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Lukman Femi Owolabi, Aliyu Ibrahim, Baba Maiyaki Musa, Baffa Adamu Gwaram, Abdulhamid Isa Dutse, Muhammad Hamza, Ahmad Maifada Yakasai, Abdulrazaq G Habib and Musa Muhammad Borodo

Background: Studies on HIV/HBV co-infection in Nigeria yielded prevalence ranging between 10% and 70%, giving the widest variation in prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection from studies emanating from any country all over the world. However, estimation of clinical and public health impacts of HIV/HBV co-infection requires a robust and reliable epidemiological data for an appropriate estimation of the logistical, economic, and humanitarian impact of the two viruses in Nigeria.

Objective: The aim of this review was to estimate the prevalence and burden of HBV infections in HIV-infected patients in Nigeria. Methods: Estimates were derived from a random effects meta-analysis of observational studies reporting the prevalence of HBV/HIV in Nigeria. The derived estimate for the prevalence of HBV/HIV co-infection was applied to the total HIV-infected populations in Nigeria to give an estimated burden of HBV/HIV co-infection in Nigeria.

Result: Thirty three studies with quality data from seventeen states in Nigeria, up to December 16, 2013, were included. I-squared heterogeneity was 98%. Random effect model (REM) estimate of prevalence among HIV-infected patients from the 33 studies was 15% (95% CI 13-17). The prevalence of HIV/HB co-infection among attendees of HIV clinics was 17% [95% CI 13-20], among pregnant HIV-infected patients were 10% [95% CI 6-15], 12% [95% CI 6-17] among HIV-infected children and among newly discovered HIV-infected voluntary blood donor (VBD) patients 10% [95% CI 6-15]. Meta- regression showed no significant associations between the mean age of the patients, the proportion of female patients, year of the study and prevalence of co-infection. The burden of HBV/HIV co-infection in Nigeria, based on the estimate, was 984 000 C.I. [852 800-1115 200].

Conclusion: In Nigeria, the estimated prevalence of HBV/HIV infection is 15% resulting in a substantial burden for the country.