Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia and risk factors of transmission among apparently healthy students of University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria
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Date
2012
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Publisher
College of Natural and Applied Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among first year
students of University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria. A total of 200 students (119 males and 81 females: ages 16
to 40 years), who consented voluntarily after thorough explanation of the purpose of the study, were
selected. The sera of the participants were tested for the presence of HBsAg by parallel diagnostic
method using Diaspot® HBsAg test kit and Smart CheckTM HBsAg device. Of the 200 samples tested, 18
(9.0%) were HBsAg positive. The result also showed that 13 (10.9%) out of the 119 males were positive,
while 5 (6.2%) out of the 81 females were positive. Analysis of the results by age groups showed that
subjects ≤20 years had a prevalence of 9.8%, subjects of age range 21-30 years had a prevalence of 8.1%
while subjects of age range 31-40 years had zero prevalence. Analysis of the results according to the risk
factors of transmission showed that subjects who reported circumcision only had a prevalence of 7.4%,
while subjects who reported history of medical operation and blood transfusion had a prevalence of
10.0%. Among subjects who reported HBV vaccination only, prevalence of 8.3% was recorded, while
12.5% prevalence was recorded for subjects who reported a combination of circumcision, medical
operation and blood transfusion. This study however confirmed the presence of Hepatitis B surface
antigenaemia among apparently healthy first year students of the University of Ilorin. General
surveillance, mass immunization and public health education to stop the spread of the infection on
campus and indeed the whole society is advocated.
Description
Keywords
Prevalence, HBsAg, antigenaemia, students