Durotoye, I A.Issa, B.AFadeyi, A.Yussuf, A.DSalami, A.KShittu, O.AAjiboye, P.OOlawumi, H.O.Adegunloye, O.ANwabuisi, CharlesSulyman, D.2023-06-142023-06-142014Durotoye, I.A., Issa, B.A., Fadeyi,A; Yussuf, A.D; Salami, A.K; Shittu, AO; Ajiboye, P.O., Olawumi, H.O., Adegunloye, O.A., Charles Nwabuisi, C. & Sulyman, D.https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/20.500.12484/11201Background: Hepatitis B and C are of global concern and Nigeria is a high endemic zone for the viruses. Persons with severe mental illness have a greater vulnerability to sexual transmitted infections including hepatitis B&C due to risky behaviour they engage in. The aim of this study is to determine the sero- prevalence of hepatitis B and C among persons with mental illness (MII) and compare them with blood donors (BDs) at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Nigeria. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 1year, starting from June, 2010, involving 350 each of BDs and MII in an out-patients department of UITH. HBsAg testing was by a one stage hepatitis B surface antigen test strips, while hepatitis C was tested using commercially prepared kits from ACON, USA. Result: A total of seven hundred participants including 350 patients with MII and 350 blood donors (BDs) were recruited for the study. Most 324(92.6%) and 349 (99.7%) were of the age range ≤55 years. There were 179(51.2%) males and 171(48.8%) females. More married BDs live with their spouses (99.0%) and had higher education than MII. Unemployment rate was higher among MII than BDs. The sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among patients with mental illness (MII) was 10.0% and 12.6% respectively as compared to a sero-prevalence of 10.9% and 1.1% in the blood donors. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B infection was similar in both subjects (MII) as well as in the blood donors but, in contrast however was higher prevalence of hepatitis C in the MII (p=0.001). Routine screening of MII for hepatitis B and C is advocated to control the complications that may arise from these diseasesenSero-prevalence, hepatitis B, C, mental illness, blood donors, Nigeria.Article