Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia

Received: 12 November 2025     Accepted: 24 November 2025     Published: 26 December 2025
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Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are major causes of chronic infections and significant public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-infection of HIV with HBV or HCV leads to accelerated disease progression and increased morbidity. Women seeking abortion care represent a population at higher risk of exposure to these infections due to unsafe procedures and multiple sexual exposures. Aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HBV and HCV co-infection with HIV among women seeking abortion care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2025 among 146 women seeking abortion care. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV antibodies using rapid tests confirmed by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression was applied to identify risk factors, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections were 6.2%, 2.1%, and 3.4%, respectively. Co-infections were observed in 1.4% (HBV/HIV) and 0.7% (HCV/HIV) of participants. Multiple sexual partners (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.5–13.7), unsafe abortion history (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.12–9.17), and needle injury (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.08–10.21) were significantly associated with infection. Conclusion: HBV, HCV, and HIV infections remain prevalent among women seeking abortion care in Dessie. Strengthening routine screening, vaccination, and health education is recommended to prevent co-infection and improve maternal health.

Published in International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11
Page(s) 1-6
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HBV, HCV, HIV, Co-infection, Abortion Care, Dessie, Ethiopia

References
[1] World Health Organization. Global Hepatitis Report. Geneva: WHO; 2023.
[2] UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics - 2022 fact sheet. Geneva: UNAIDS; 2022.
[3] CDC. HIV and Viral Hepatitis Co-infection. Atlanta: CDC; 2023.
[4] Thio CL. Hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection. Hepatology. 2009; 49(S5): S138–S145.
[5] Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Update, Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: EPHI; 2021.
[6] Mesfin M, Hailemariam T. Unsafe abortion and risk of viral hepatitis among women. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2022; 32(2): 187–194.
[7] Smith S, Taylor M. Co-infection of HBV, HCV, and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. J Infect Dis. 2019; 45(3): 123–130.
[8] Mwangi M, Okumu A, Nduati R, et al. Prevalence of HIV/HBV/HCV co-infection among pregnant women in Kenya. BMC Public Health. 2021; 21: 342.
[9] Tadesse F, Abate D. Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among women in Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2021; 21: 134.
[10] Getachew A, Fentahun N. HIV and HBV co-infection among women seeking abortion care in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2022; 22: 1203.
[11] WHO. Global Progress Report on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
[12] Kebede T, Yilma G. High burden of viral hepatitis co-infection among women in high-risk areas of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Int J Infect Dis. 2020; 25(1): 101–107.
[13] Fantaye A, Teklu B. Systematic review and meta-analysis of hepatitis B and C virus seroprevalence in Ethiopia: implications for public health. BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1): 150.
[14] Zewdu M, Deribe K. Epidemiology of co-infection with HIV and viral hepatitis and associated risk factors among reproductive-age women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2018; 13(9): e0202998.
[15] Alene K, Gizachew M. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus and its risk factors among non-pregnant women in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Gastroenterol. 2017; 17(1): 85.
[16] Ethiopia Ministry of Health. Ethiopia National HIV/AIDS In dicator Survey 2020: Key Findings. Addis Ababa: MoH; 2020. (Note: This specific title is often used for the 2016 EDHS or the EPHIA 2017-2018 reports which were published around 2020).
[17] Adal M. Systematic review on HIV situation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2019 Nov 21; 9(1): 544.
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  • APA Style

    Ali, I. E., Awol, L. S. (2025). Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation, 2(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11

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    ACS Style

    Ali, I. E.; Awol, L. S. Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. Int. J. Med. Res. Innovation 2025, 2(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11

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    AMA Style

    Ali IE, Awol LS. Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. Int J Med Res Innovation. 2025;2(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11,
      author = {Ismail Ebrie Ali and Lubaba Sied Awol},
      title = {Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmri.20260201.11},
      abstract = {Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are major causes of chronic infections and significant public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-infection of HIV with HBV or HCV leads to accelerated disease progression and increased morbidity. Women seeking abortion care represent a population at higher risk of exposure to these infections due to unsafe procedures and multiple sexual exposures. Aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HBV and HCV co-infection with HIV among women seeking abortion care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2025 among 146 women seeking abortion care. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV antibodies using rapid tests confirmed by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression was applied to identify risk factors, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections were 6.2%, 2.1%, and 3.4%, respectively. Co-infections were observed in 1.4% (HBV/HIV) and 0.7% (HCV/HIV) of participants. Multiple sexual partners (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.5–13.7), unsafe abortion history (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.12–9.17), and needle injury (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.08–10.21) were significantly associated with infection. Conclusion: HBV, HCV, and HIV infections remain prevalent among women seeking abortion care in Dessie. Strengthening routine screening, vaccination, and health education is recommended to prevent co-infection and improve maternal health.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence of HBV and HCV Co-infection with HIV Among Women Seeking Abortion Care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia
    AU  - Ismail Ebrie Ali
    AU  - Lubaba Sied Awol
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmri.20260201.11
    T2  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
    JF  - International Journal of Medical Research and Innovation
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    AB  - Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are major causes of chronic infections and significant public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Co-infection of HIV with HBV or HCV leads to accelerated disease progression and increased morbidity. Women seeking abortion care represent a population at higher risk of exposure to these infections due to unsafe procedures and multiple sexual exposures. Aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HBV and HCV co-infection with HIV among women seeking abortion care at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2025 among 146 women seeking abortion care. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV antibodies using rapid tests confirmed by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression was applied to identify risk factors, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections were 6.2%, 2.1%, and 3.4%, respectively. Co-infections were observed in 1.4% (HBV/HIV) and 0.7% (HCV/HIV) of participants. Multiple sexual partners (AOR = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.5–13.7), unsafe abortion history (AOR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.12–9.17), and needle injury (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.08–10.21) were significantly associated with infection. Conclusion: HBV, HCV, and HIV infections remain prevalent among women seeking abortion care in Dessie. Strengthening routine screening, vaccination, and health education is recommended to prevent co-infection and improve maternal health.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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