Seroprevalence and predictors for hepatitis C antibodies among students in tertiary educational institutions of Nigeria
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Research.
Abstract
Hepatitis C (Hep.C) virus infection is highly prevalent with elevated undetected cases globally. The goals of this study
were to evaluate seroprevalence and potential predictors associated with HepC antibodies among students in two
tertiary educational institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional research was conducted with structured
questionnaires on socio-demographics and potential predictors for HepC infection which were filled by the
participants. Three millilitre of blood sample was collected from each participant to screen for anti-Hepatitis C Virus
antibodies. In each tertiary educational institution, 166 participants were recruited. Ethical approval and informed
consents were obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. In both institutions, the majority of the
participants (263, 79.2%) were within the ages of 21-25 years. One hundred and thirty-two (79.5%) and one hundred
and thirty-one (78.9%) were within the ages of 21-25 years in the College of Education, Oro and Kwara State
Polytechnic, Ilorin, respectively. Also, ninety-nine (59.6%) in the College of Education and ninety-five (57.2%) in
Kwara State Polytechnic were females. Zero (0.0) and 0.6 percent seroprevalence of HepC virus infection were found
among participants in the College of Education, Oro and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin respectively. Also, none of
the demographic, social and medical variables was significantly associated with the seroprevalence of HepC infection.
The seroprevalence rates of HepC virus infection were low in the institutions studied. None of the risk factors was
associated with HepC positivity.
Description
Keywords
HepC antibodies, seroprevalence, screening, tertiary institutions, students
Citation
4. Bello, S. I; Dayom wetkos, Fatimah iyabodeAbdulazeez, Jamiu, M.O &Aliyu, F.O. (2021): Seroprevalence and predictors for hepatitis C antibodies among students in tertiary educational institutions of Nigeria. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Research. Published by Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri. Letter of Acceptance dated September, 2020 (Manuscript to be published in Volume 5, Number 1 issue of the journal). Letter attached