Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia in Children in a Tertiary Health Institution in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data on the seroprevalence of HBV infection in children living in urban areas of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. The aim of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among children presenting to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), to determine the trend in the seroprevalence of HBsAg over a five-year period and to correlate serological findings to clinical features. METHODS: Serum samples from 251 consecutively recruited children in UPTH aged =16 years were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen using Clinotech HBsAg kits and confirmed using the Trinity Biotec enzyme linked immunosorbent assay based HBsAg kits. Medical records of the children were also obtained. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HBsAg among children tested was 12.4%. HBsAg prevalence was highest in the 11-15 years age group (24.5%) and the lowest in the 6-10 years age group (11.0%). There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of HB V positivity based on age groups (?2, = 8.47, p = 0.014). Prevalence rate was relatively higher among males (13.7%) compared to females (10.7%). There is a statistically significant trend in the decline of HBsAg prevalence 1999 to 2004 (?2, for trend = 11.38, p = 0.001). The predominant symptoms among children positive for HBsAg were hepatosplenomegaly (75%) and jaundice (64.5%). CONCLUSION: This study indicates a high prevalence of HBsAg among children presenting to a tertiary health facility in Port Harcourt

Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-infected Subjects in a Resource-Limited Setting in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

Since the early days of antiretroviral therapy; adherence has emerged a milestone to success. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors militating against adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected individuals in the resource - limited setting of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. A structured interviewer- administered questionnaire from consecutively recruited 187 HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy of two-nucleoside analogue; stavudine and lamivudine and one non-nucleoside (nevirapine) was used. Association between the independent variables and adherence were analyzed using chi square analysis. This study observed an adherence level of 49.2and identified the following as factors associated with nonadherence: cost of antiretrovirals; educational status; medication adverse effect; occupational factors; and high pill burden of prescribed regimen (p 0.05). There is an urgent need for universal access and sustainability of antiretroviral therapy particularly in resource - limited settings. There is need for supervised medication delivery. Efforts should be made towards simplifying the therapeutic regimen to reduce the pill burden and substitution with treatment combination and strategies that minimize negative adverse effects; coupled with the re-intensification of patient's education and counseling

Sociodemographic characteristics of young adults screened for HIV in a tertiary health centre in South-South Nigeria

Background: Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection is endemic globally, more so in developing countries like Nigeria and is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Objective: This study was undertaken to document the sero-prevalence of HIV infection among young adults (10 ­ 24 years). Method: HIV screening was performed on all (n = 673) young adults referred to the retrovirology unit of the Haematology Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 2003 to December 2003 comprising of 205 males and 432 females were screened for HIV using a double ELISA confirmatory of Immunocomb and Genscreen HIV 1 & 2 kits. Result: A total of 637 young adults were screened for HIV. Two hundred and seventy-two (42.7%) were found positive to HIV. The highest infection burden occurred among the 20-24 years group 242 (50%) and lowest among the 10-14years group 4(12.1%). Infection rate was significantly higher among females 217 (50.2%), and in less educated adolescent with no formal education 56 (80%). History of alcoholism 262 (99.2%), drug use 146(60.6), number of sexual partners and age at first sexual debut were independent risk factors in adolescents for infection with HIV (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study confirmed a high prevalence of HIV among adolescents and describes the groups more at risk as seen in other parts of Nigeria. This calls for urgent health education of the young adult population with emphasis on a combination of behavioural and social changes to curb the spread of HIV