Prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in patients attending STI/RTI clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Patients attending Sexually transmitted infection/ Reproductive tract infection (STI/RTI) clinics are investigated for HIV and syphilis under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP). Although sexual contact is one of the modes of transmission of hepatitis B and C, they are not investigated under NACP. This study was planned to find the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and C in patients attending STI/RTI clinics and to identify the predictive risk factors.

METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out over 5 years on 500 consenting adults. 10 ml blood was collected and tests were performed as per standard protocol for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and C. Risk factors for the sexually transmitted diseases were queried.

RESULTS: 500 samples were tested, 117(23.4%) men and 383 (76.6%) women. 26(22.2%), 20(17.1%), 11(9.4%) and 01(0.9%) men and 8(2.1%), 36(9.4%), 01(0.3%) and 0(0%) women were positive for HIV, RPR, hepatitis B and C respectively. Dual infection for HIV and syphilis was detected in four (0.8%) men and HIV and hepatitis B in three (0.6%) men.

CONCLUSION: To investigate all patients attending STI/RTI clinics for Hepatitis B and to integrate Hepatitis B testing into the National AIDS Control Program.