HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONG PREGNANT WOMENPEOPLE LIVING WITH HIVAIDS ATTENDING CLINIC AT UNTH ITUKUOZALLA

ABSTRACT

A total of 50 blood 30 pregnant and 20 HIV samples were obtained from pregnant women and PLWHA attending clinic at UNTH Itukuozalla. Samples were screened for hepatitis c viral infection using the rapid one step hepatitis C virus test strip. Two 6.66 pregnant women were positive and four 20 HIV patients were positive for Hepatitis C, giving an overall prevalence rate of 26.7. The infection was the same in male 3 and in female 3. Those aged 2334 years recorded a higher prevalence of 20 than those in the age group 1923. This higher prevalence of hepatitis C suggests that pregnant women and PLWHA may be at risk of hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus. Therefore routine screening of pregnant women and PLWHA should be instituted for early diagnosis and management of cases.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis C infection is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus HCV. HCV is one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liverRyan and Ray,2004.It is unrelated to the other common hepatitis viruses for example, hepatitis A or hepatitis B. HCV is a member of thehepacivirus genus in the familyFlaviviridae. There are at least six distinctly different strains of the virus which have different genetic profiles genotypes. In the U. S., genotype 1 is the most common form of HCV. Even within a single genotype there may be some variations genotype 1a and 1b, for example. Genotyping is important to guide treatment because some viral genotype respond better to therapy than others Wilkins et al. 2009.

According to Hepatitis C NSW 2010, here are some of the things that can happen once the body contract hepatitis C.

The body may deal with hepatitis C of its own accord and you may never get sick.About 25 of all people who contract hepatitis C will clear the infection although this happen less commonly in people with HIV. For a range of reasons, hepatitis C infection is eradicated from the body in these people, usually within 12 months of having been infected.

Doctors use various tests to determine if a person has hepatitis C. One type of test measures antibodies in the blood, indicating that a person been exposed to HCV; the two most common antibody tests are called ELISA and RIBA. Viral load tests measure how much HCV genetic material is present in the blood; the two most common viral load tests are called PCR and bDNA.

Who to test for hepatitis c virus

According to MMWR 1998 Persons who ever injected illegal drugs,

Persons who were ever on chronic longterm hemodialysis;

Persons with persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase level

Persons who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection;

1.2 OBJECTIVES

i. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in pregnant women attending antenatal in UNTH Itukuozalla

ii. To determine the age distribution where the infection occurs most

iii. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis virus in people living with HIV and AIDS attending UNTH Itukuozalla