Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis Infections among Patients in a Psychiatric Hospital in Ghana

In developing countries like Ghana, people with serious psychiatric disorders do not have equal access to health care as normal non-mentally challenged people do. Moreover, mental health care generally focuses on physical health screening, health education, and improving access to treatment in primary and secondary care to the detriment of sexual health needs including prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Studies have shown the risk of blood-borne virus infections such as HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus has increased in the last few decades among people with psychiatric disorders. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis infections in patients with psychiatric disorders.