Authors : Sahr Solomon Foryoh; Sento Koroma; Nath Kandeh; Fatmata H. Bangura; Tamba Morquee

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mv946ckh

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4sh44s55

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan1570

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection continues to pose a significant public health burden in Sub Saharan Africa because both infections share similar routes of transmission and worsen clinical outcomes. This study examined the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and their coinfection among patients attending Makeni Regional Hospital in Sierra Leone. A hospital based cross sectional study design was employed, using secondary data obtained from blood donor records. A total of one hundred and sixty four participants were randomly selected from records covering the period from January to December two thousand and nineteen. Sociodemographic characteristics and infection status were assessed using descriptive analysis, while associations were explored using inferential statistical testing. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection was found to be fifteen point two percent. Coinfection was more commonly observed among young adults and students, and occupation showed a statistically significant relationship with coinfection status. No significant associations were identified for age, sex, marital status, or blood group. These findings underscore the importance of integrated screening services, focused preventive interventions, and the expansion of hepatitis B vaccination programs in Sierra Leone.

Keywords : Hepatitis B Virus; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Coinfection; Prevalence; Sierra Leone

References :

1. Alter, M. J. (2006). Epidemiology of viral hepatitis and HIV co-infection. Journal of Hepatology, 44(1), S6–S9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2005.11.004
2. Lwanga, S. K., & Lemeshow, S. (1991). Sample size determination in health studies: A practical manual. World Health Organization.
3. Puoti, M., Rossotti, R., & Travi, G. (2014). Hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-infected patients. AIDS Reviews, 16(1), 17–28.
4. Schweitzer, A., Horn, J., Mikolajczyk, R. T., Krause, G., & Ott, J. J. (2015). Estimations of worldwide prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The Lancet, 386(10003), 1546–1555. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61412-X
5. Thio, C. L. (2009). Hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection. Hepatology, 49(5), S138–S145. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.22883
6. UNAIDS. (2023). Global HIV & AIDS statistics — Fact sheet. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
7. World Health Organization. (2017). Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. WHO Press.
8. World Health Organization. (2023). Global hepatitis report. WHO Press.