Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among HIV Positive Patients Receiving HAART at a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection affects approximately 2.3 million people globally, with people living with HIV (PLWH) having a sixfold higher risk of HCV infection compared to those without HIV. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of HCV co-infection among HIV-positive patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi. Methods: A cohort study design was conducted with 250 study participants using a consecutive sampling method. A structured self-administered questionnaire, which was pre-tested, was utilized to gather data on socio-demographic and risk factors from participants over a period of 3 months, spanning from September to November 2023. The prevalence of HCV co-infection was assessed using serum samples from the participants. Chi-square was utilized to examine the relationship between socio-demographic factors and HCV/HIV co-infection. Binary regression analysis was employed to examine independent predictors of HCV co-infection. All experiments were conducted at 9%. Results: The prevalence of HCV/HIV co-infection was 4.0%, with a mean participant age of 44 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:3. No significant differences were found in co-infection rates by sex, age, religion, or marital status (p > 0.05). However, significant associations were observed with education level (p = 0.022) and employment status (p = 0.013), with higher prevalence among patients with primary education (9.7%) and those unemployed (6.3%). Independent predictors of co-infection included primary education (AOR=3.419, p=0.001), unemployment (AOR=3.200, p=0.001), and sharing sharps (AOR=3.071, p=0.004). Conclusion: This 4.0% co-infection rate indicates an endemic situation, underscoring the necessity for strengthened public health education to reduce risk behaviours and promote extensive HCV testing among HIV patients. Although limited by its single-centre scope and reliance on self-reported data, the findings provide valuable local epidemiological information and offer guidance for future research aimed at addressing HCV/HIV co-infection in Nigeria and comparable environments.