Hepatitis B and C infections, human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections among women of childbearing age in Cote d'Ivoire, West Arica

Few studies have been conducted in developing countries to estimate the pre valence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs ). We have screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV markers 200 HIV-1-p ositive, 23 HIV-2-positive and 206 HIV-negative women attending gynaecology clinics in 1995/96 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, a sample selected among 2198 consecutive consultants. Taking into account the prevalence of 21.7% for H IV in this population, the overall prevalence of anti-HBV core antibody was 81.6%, that for hepatitis B surface antigen was 9.9% and for HCV antibody was 3.3%. HIV infection and other STDs were not associated with HBV or HCV markers. Moreover, HBV and HCV markers were not statistically associated. O ur results confirm the high prevalence of HIV in Abidjan and the endemic si tuation of HBV infection. Furthermore, HCV infection is not infrequent in t his developing country setting, not explained by sexual transmission.