STUDIES ON HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN EBONYI STATE NIGERIA USING HBSAG AS MARKERS: RAPID ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Abstract
Studies on Hepatitis B Virus infection in Ebonyi State Nigeria using HBsAg for Rapid Assessment Survey were carried out between the years 2018 to 2020. Ethical approval for the work was obtained from the ministry of Health Ebonyi State. Thereafter, appropriate advocacy visits were made to the authorities of the LGAs and communities in the state. Five communities in each of the thirteen (13) LGAs of the state were randomly selected for the survey. Informed Consent was also obtained from the participants aged 16-50 years of both sexes. Nine thousand five hundred and seventy (9570) participants (3543 males and 6027 females) were recruited for the study. Blood samples were appropriately collected from the subjects and screened for Hepatitis B Virus infection using antibody (Ab) rapid test kit. Serum from the positive samples were separated and stored at -20°C for subsequent molecular analysis in phase 2 of this work. The screening result showed 656 positives cases giving a significant prevalence of 6.9% in the study population. According to vaccination, 1.0% prevalence was of those vaccinated and 7.1% for non- vaccinated. This increase was found to be statistically significant. There was variation in prevalence with relation to age group: 3.8% was recorded for those aged 16-20 years, 4.4% for those aged 21-25 years, 6.3% for those aged 26-30 years, 9.0% for those aged 31-35 years, 11.8% for those aged 36-40 years, and a decline of 8.6% for those aged 41-45 and 4.4% for those aged 46-50 years. This variation was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence according to sex, 7.3% for males and 6.6% for females. The result of this study with regard to location also showed significant difference in prevalence, (Ebonyi Central7.1%, Ebonyi North 8.9% and Ebonyi South 5.2%) which was statistically significant (P<0.05). The above result is alarming and looking at the age bracket involved, the work force of Ebonyi State is in danger and it calls for serious concern to the government and health authorities at all levels to save the state from a total collapse in the area of manpower.
