ABSTRACT

A total of 82 blood (54 female patients and 28 male patients) samples were obtained from patients attending clinic at Daughter of Mary Mother of Mercy Medical Clinic. Samples were screened for Hepatitis C Viral infection using the rapid one step hepatitis C virus test strip. Out of the fifty four female patients with HIV virus, Nine (16.7%) female patients were positive for Hepatitis C Virus, giving an overall prevalence rate of (26.7%), in male, out of the 28 patients with HIV virus 5 (17.9%) male patients were positive for Hepatitis C Virus. From the finding of the research was observed that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus was higher in those within the age range of 19-25 than in those within the age range of 26-35 and 36-40. The finding in the research work also shows that male and female patients living with HIV virus out of 82 (100%) in this study, 14(17.1%) were Co-infection positive, while 68 (82.9%) were tested positive to HIV virus. It is hereby recommended that secondary prevention activities such as identifying HCV infected persons through diagnostic test, medical management and anti-viral therapy and providing appropriate medical follow-up and promoting healthy life styles and behaviour can reduce risk for chronic infection.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title                                                                                                                                  

 Page

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Table of Contents v

List of Figures vii

Abstract

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION ONE

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Aims and Objectives 3

SECTION TWO

2.1 Short History and Biology of the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (Hiv) 5

2.1.1 Structure of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). 6

2.1.2 Types of HIV Virus and its Mechanism of Replication/Action 7

2.1.3 How HIV Spread 8

2.1.4 Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infection: 9

2.1.5 Preventive Measures 10

2.1.6 Management and Control Measures 10

2.2 Future Prospects for Production of Hiv/Aids Vaccine 13

2.3 Current Epidemiology of Hiv Disease 17

2.3.1 Mode of transmission and risk factors 17

2.3.2 Pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus 19

2.4 Signs and Symptoms 20

2.5 Diagnosis of Hepatitis C 20

2.5.1 Serology 20

2.5.2 Biopsy 21

2.5.3 Screening 21

2.6 Prevention of Hepatitis C 22

2.7 Treatment of Hepatitis C 22

2.8 Hepatitis C Virus and Pregnancy 23

2.9 Hepatitis C Virus and Hiv 26

SECTION THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods            27

3.1 Study Population 27

3.2 Sample collection 27

3.3 HCV Screening            27

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results 29

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion          `34

5.2 Conclusion 34

5.3 Recommendation 35

References