Abstract

BOYLES, Tom H  and  COHEN, Karen. The prevalence of hepatitis B infection in a rural South African HIV clinic. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2011, vol.101, n.7, pp. 470-471. ISSN 0256-9574.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 1 765 HIVpositive 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 aminotransferase (ALT) were significant predictors of HBV status. Most HBV-positive patients had normal baseline ALT, making ALT an insensitive screening test for HBV status.