Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis are the causes of widely spread infectious disease, especially in resource-limited countries. The extent of HBV infection and its contributing factors among people with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were not adequately addressed. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of HBV, HIV & their associated risk factors and the magnitude of TB among individuals with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis attending at St. Peter's Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 individuals with presumptive PTB from October to December 2020. A standard questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and associated risk factors. Sputum samples were analyzed by GeneXpert, Florescent Microscopy and Ziehl-Nelson staining technique. HBsAg test was carried out using Murex Version 3 ELISA test kit from serum/Plasma samples, HIV testing was performed by rapid HIV test kits and data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 44.2 years. Overall, 14 (3.6%), 28 (7.2%) and 37 (9.6%) of them were positive for HBV, HIV & TB, respectively. Only single patient was HBV-HIV co-infected (0.3%). The TB-HIV co-infection was identified in 6 (1.6%). In multivariate analysis, being partner separated, alcohol consumption, body piercing and having multiple sexual partners were significantly associated with HBV infection. Having a spouse, who is divorced, widowed, sharing scissors, alcohol consumption and contact with multiple sexual partners also significantly associated with HIV infection. CONCLUSION: This study showed that HBV, HIV and TB are still public health issues that need awareness and health education on the risky behaviors and transmission of HBV, HIV & TB among individuals with presumptive TB suspects. Further large-scale study is necessary.