EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF HAART ON HBSAG SEROREACTIVITY IN HBV/HIV CO-INFECTED PATIENTS AT AYDER REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health issue, with approximately 350 million people (5 to 7% of the world's population) chronically infected and 600,000 (0.2%) deaths annually due to HBV-related diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. In East and Southeast Asia, perinatal transmission is the primary mode of HBV spread. In contrast, in Africa, most HBV transmission occurs before the age of five through close household contact, medical procedures, traditional scarification, and potentially other unidentified mechanisms. This study aims to explore the epidemiology of HBV transmission in different regions, with a focus on understanding the modes of transmission and identifying strategies to reduce infection rates and associated mortalities