Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and serological markers of other endemic infections in HIV-infected children, adolescents and pregnant women in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the prevalence of serological markers of HBV and endemic acute and chronic infections (HAV, HCV, CMV, HTLV-1/2 and syphilis) in HIV-infected children, adolescents and pregnant women in Sierra Leone. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the national children’s and women’s hospitals in Freetown. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of HBsAg positivity. Results: 183 HIV-infected participants were enrolled, comprising children (n = 88), adolescents (n = 47) and pregnant women (n = 48). All participants (100%) were CMV IgG-positive, while 56.8%, 93.6% and 100% of children, adolescents and pregnant women, respectively, were HAV IgG-positive. The prevalence of HCV, HTLV-1/2 and syphilis were 10 years, i.e., being born pre-2009 before implementation of routine hepatitis B immunization (aOR 5.05 [1.18−21.28]; p = 0.029) and CD4 count