The prevalence of hepatitis B infection in a rural South African HIV clinic

Abstract

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 1 765 HIV-positive patients in rural Eastern Cape was 7.1%. This is lower than the previously reported rural prevalence and is similar to urban prevalence. Male sex and baseline alanine aminotransferease (ALT) were significant predictors of HBV status. Most HBV-positive patients had normal baseline ALT, making ALT an insensitive screening test for HBV status.