Studies on Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Secondary School Students in North-Central; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection is one of the major global public health problems; with its attendant risks especially among the young adults. This study was therefore carried out to assess the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among students of a secondary school in Jagindi Tasha; Kaduna State; Nigeria. One hundred and ninety (190) apparently healthy students were screened and sera samples obtained were separated and analysed for HBsAg using a commercially available Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)-based kit (Dialab). Information was obtained for risk factors using structured questionnaire. Out of the 190 samples screened; 35 (18.4) were sero-positive. Subjects aged 13-15 years recorded 6.8 positivity (x2 = 1.084; p0.05) and male subjects had 25.5 positivity compared to 10.9 positivity for females (x2 = 6.768; p0.05). Risk factors such as blood transfusion was 32.0 among male subjects compared to 30.0 in females (x2