Submission ID 129961
| Issue/Objective | HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection remains a significant yet under-recognized contributor to mortality within global HIV programs. Despite expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), outcomes among co-infected patients remain suboptimal, particularly in high-burden, resource-limited settings. In a fragmented global health landscape, generating context-specific evidence is essential to inform more integrated and equitable care. This study aimed to evaluate survival outcomes among HIV-HBV co-infected patients compared with HIV mono-infected patients on ART in Northern Ethiopia. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A retrospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected individuals receiving ART in six health facilities in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia, from January 2009 to February 2018. A total of 466 patients were included, of whom 94 were HBV Co-infected and 372 were HIV mono-infected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate survival probabilities and identify predictors of mortality. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14. |
| Results | Of the total participants, 300 (64.3%) were female, and 43% were aged 15-30 years. Over 1960 person-years of follow-up, mortality was higher among HIV-HBV co-infected patients (24%) compared to HIV mono-infected patients (7%). In adjusted analysis, co-infection was associated with more than a twofold increased hazard of death (aHR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.31-4.85). |
| Discussion/Conclusion | HIV-HBV co-infection significantly increases mortality despite ART, highlighting a critical gap in current HIV care models. These findings underscore the need to integrate routine HBV screening, co-infection-tailored treatment, and risk-stratified follow-up within existing HIV programs. Strengthening implementation through coordinated service delivery and clear accountability mechanisms will be essential to reduce preventable deaths and improve outcomes. Advancing such integrated, person-centered approaches is key to restoring commitment to action and promoting global health equity in resource-constrained settings. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Goshu Hagos Gebrewahid Medical Teams International (MTI) Haileselassie Bisrat Bidre Tigray regional Health Bureau Desalegn Massa Teklemicael deDepartment of Epidemiology, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia Goshu Hagos Gebrewahid United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Gebrecherkos Teame Department of Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer, Tigray Health Research Institute, Mekelle, Ethiopia Fsaha Gebretsadkan Tekulu Department of Reproductive and Family Health, School of Public Health College of Health Science, Aksum University, Axum, Ethiopia Alemayehu Bayray kahsay Department of Epidemiology, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia |
