Prevalence and correlates of Hepatitis B and C infections in Sickle cell anaemic (SCA) children compared to Controls in a Tertiary Hospital, Abakaliki, Southeast, Nigeria

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Background: Practices among sickle cell anaemic (SCA) children may increase their risk of infection with blood-borne viruses. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among children with SCA compared to controls. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study that involved 200 children with SCA and 200 non-SCA children (controls). Information was obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was done using Smartcare® rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) kits for HBV and HCV. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Five (2.5%) and 21 (10.5%) of the SCA children recruited into the study were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV respectively, compared to 2(1.0%) and 13 (6.5%) observed in controls. The Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (AOR=3.39, 95%CI=1.20-9.57, p=0.016), age (AOR=0.88, 95%CI=0.79-0.99, p=0.033), and multiple ear piercings (AOR=1.93, 95%CI=1.17-21.59, p=0.021) were correlates of HCV infection among study participants. Conclusion: A high prevalence rate of HCV infection was observed among children with SCA and was significantly associated with a modifiable variable.

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