Seroprevalence and risk factors of HBV/HCV/HIV triple co-infection among HIV patients receiving HAART at a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: co-infection of hepatitis B and C viruses with HIV is associated with poorer survival, increased risk of severe liver disease, and greater highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-related liver toxicity. This study assessed the seroprevalence and risk factors for triple co-infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HBV/HCV/HIV) among HIV-positive patients on HAART at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi. METHODS: in this cross-sectional study, 250 HIV-positive adults were recruited consecutively over three months. Socio-demographic data and risk factors were collected using structured questionnaires. Serum samples were analyzed for hepatitis B and C. Prevalence was calculated, and associations with triple co-infection were examined using chi-square and logistic regression analyses (SPSS v27.0, 95% confidence level). RESULTS: the prevalence of HBV/HCV/HIV triple co-infection was 1.2% among 250 HIV patients receiving HAART. The cohort was predominantly female (74.4%), with a female-to-male ratio of 3: 1 and a mean age of 45 years. Secondary education (AOR = 3.080, 95% CI: 1.420-7.038, p = 0.020), multiple sexual partners (AOR = 2.200, 95% CI: 1.271-7.073, p = 0.001), and smoking (AOR = 4.071, 95% CI: 1.101-11.018, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of triple co-infection. No significant associations were observed with sex, age, marital status, employment, alcohol use, or body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: the 1.2% seroprevalence of triple co-infection is low but highlights the ongoing presence of these infections. This finding reinforces the need for stronger public health education and more targeted screening programs. These measures can help reduce risky behaviors and encourage early testing to curb transmission.