Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia and risk factors of transmission among apparently healthy students of University of Ilorin, Ilorin-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.

Key words: Prevalence, HBsAg, antigenaemia, students