Seroprevalence and Determinants of Hepatitis D Virus Infection Among HIV-Infected Individuals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a major global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where coinfection with hepatotropic viruses such as hepatitis D virus (HDV) can worsen disease progression and clinical outcomes. HDV is a defective RNA virus that depends on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) for replication. Despite its clinical significance, data on HIV/HDV coinfection remain limited in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. This study investigated the seroprevalence and associated factors of HDV infection among HIV-positive individuals attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 100 HIV-positive participants were screened for HDV total antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Fortress Diagnostics, UK). Demographic and clinical data were obtained, and associations between variables and HDV seropositivity were analysed using the chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The overall HDV seroprevalence was 9.0% (9/100). The highest rate was observed among participants within the 45 to 59 age range (18.2%), while no seropositivity was detected among those aged 18–29 years (p = 0.006). Gender and marital status showed no significant association, whereas religion was significantly associated with HDV infection (p < 0.01), with the highest prevalence among adherents of traditional religion (60.0%). Clinical variables showed significant associations between HDV infection and HBV coinfection (p < 0.01), lack of ART (p = 0.01), and high viral load ≥ 20,000 copies/mL (p < 0.01). Although CD4 count showed an inverse trend, the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.075). These findings underscore the importance of routine HDV screening among HIV-infected individuals, especially those with HBV coinfection, high viral load, or poor ART adherence, to reduce disease burden and improve patient outcomes in Nigeria.