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

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

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community; North-Central; Nigeria

Globally; Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school; Sabon Pegi; Kuru; Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened; 35 (9.7) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1compared to 3.6for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6. Furthermore; family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6; while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3. Unfortunately; the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children; particularly the school age group