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Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria

Received: 5 February 2014     Published: 28 February 2014
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Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among the newly admitted students of University of Jos, Jos Nigeria. A total of 300 newly admitted students were screened using rapid test (Global Rapid Diagnostic Kits USA) for the detection of HBsAg in serum samples from July 2010 to October 2010. The results obtained showed that 50(16.7%) were seropositive to HBsAg. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in males 34(11.33%) compared to 16(5.33%) in females. Age specific prevalence was significantly higher in the age bracket 25-29, with 16(28.57%) and the lowest was found in the age bracket 15 -19 years with 12(17.39%). The most important risk factors in the acquisition of HBsAg as revealed in this study appear to be: Family History of hepatitis, 11(36.6%), those with multiple sexual partners 4(13.79%), blood transfusion 3(13.64%), and tribal mark 3(13.04%). The prevalence of HBV recorded among newly admitted students in this study is probably a reflection of the situation in Nigerian Universities. Therefore, urgent preventive measures should be taken to set up campaign against transmission of HBV in University of Jos and the general population. To lower HBV prevalence, an adequate program of active screening and vaccination for students should be implemented, followed by a universal active immunization program.

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15
Page(s) 35-39
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Prevalence, Virus, Risk Factors, Students, Jos

References
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[2] Barker, L.F., Shullam, R., Murray, R., Hirchman, R.J., Ratner, F., Diefenbach, W.C. and Geller, H.M. Transmission of serum hepatitis. Journal of the American Medical Association 1996, 276: 841-855.
[3] Williams, R. Global challenges in liver disease. Hepatology 2006, 44(3): 521-526.
[4] Maddrey, W.C. Hepatitis B an important public health issue. Journal of Medical Virology 2000, 61: 362-63.
[5] Bojuwoye, B.J. The burden of viral hepatitis in Africa. West African Journal of Medicine 1997, 16 (4): 198-203.
[6] Olumide, E.A. The distribution of HbsAg in Africa and the tropics. Report of population study in Nigeria. International Journal of Epidemiology 1996, 5(3): 279-289.
[7] Nacos, B., Dao, B. and Dahourou, M. Hepatitis B surface antigen carriers state in pregnant women in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkinafaso) Dakar Med. 2000, 45(2) 188-190(8).
[8] Agbede, O.O., Iseniyi, J.O., Kolawole M.O. and Ojuawo, A. Risk factors and seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigens in mothers and their pre-school age children in Ilorin, Nigeria. Therapy 2007, 4(1):67-72.
[9] Otegbayo, J.A., Fasola, F.A. and Abja, A. Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigens, risk factors for viral acquisition and serum transaminase among blood denors in Ibadan, Nigeria. Tropical Gastroenterology 2007, 24(4) 196-7.
[10] Pyrsopoulos, N.T. and Jeffers, L. Hepatitis C in African Americans. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 2007, 41 (2):185-193
[11] Butler, T.G., Dolan, K.A., Ferson, M.J., McGuinnes, L.M., Brown, P.R. and Robertson, P.W. Hepatitis B and C in New South Wales prisons: prevalence and risk factors. Medical Journal of Australia 1997, 166 (3): 127-130
[12] Miranda, A.E., Vargus, P.M., St. Louis, M.E. and Vicina, M.C. Sexually Transmitted Diseases among female prisoners in Brazil: Prevalence and Risk factors. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2000 27: 49-495
[13] Mustapha, S.K., Bolori, M.T., Ajayi, N.A., Aggada, H.A., Pindiga, U.H., Gashau, W. and Khalil, M.I.A. Hepatocellular carcinoma in North-Eastern Nigeria. A prospective clinical study of 100 cases. The Internet Journal of Gastroenterology 2007, 6(1).
[14] Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria. National HIV/AIDs and Reproductive Health Survey, Abuja 2003, 209pp.
[15] UNSN. Nigeria Common Country Assessment World Health Organization, Geneva 2001, 563pp.
[16] Hodges, M., Sanders, E. and Aitken, C. Seroprevalence of hepatitis markers: HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV among primary school children in Freetown Sierra Leon. West African Journal of Medicine 1998, 17(1):36-37.
[17] Narcisse, P.K., Soulyman, B., Alexander, M., Josiane, L., Aubin, B. and Alain, L. F. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in a cohort of students in Bangui, Central African Republic. BMC. Infectious Diseases 2010, 10:226.
[18] Muhammad M.A., Sohail, Z.Z., Salman, A. M., Shahzad, S. Asif, N., Salmaan, S., Mehar, A. and Javed, A. B. Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus genotype in Pakistan. BMC Infectious Disease 2007, 7:115.
[19] Olakayode, A., Lawal, A, S., Bakaney, L. N., Uche, A. O., Udeze, I., and Okonko, O. (2009). HBV infection among intending blood donors who incidentally tested positive of HIV Anti-body in two blood banks in Ibadan, Nigeria. World Applied Sciences Journal, 1(10) 12569-12754.
[20] Alter, M. Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B. Seminars in Liver Disease 2003, 23(1): 39-46.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Odinachi Okoh Ekuma, John Danjuma Mawak, Augustine Uwakwe, Ogbonnaya Ogbu, Felicia Ngozi Okoh, et al. (2014). Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria. American Journal of Life Sciences, 2(1), 35-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15

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    ACS Style

    Odinachi Okoh Ekuma; John Danjuma Mawak; Augustine Uwakwe; Ogbonnaya Ogbu; Felicia Ngozi Okoh, et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria. Am. J. Life Sci. 2014, 2(1), 35-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15

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    AMA Style

    Odinachi Okoh Ekuma, John Danjuma Mawak, Augustine Uwakwe, Ogbonnaya Ogbu, Felicia Ngozi Okoh, et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria. Am J Life Sci. 2014;2(1):35-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15,
      author = {Odinachi Okoh Ekuma and John Danjuma Mawak and Augustine Uwakwe and Ogbonnaya Ogbu and Felicia Ngozi Okoh and Maduka Victor Agah and Agwu Ulu Nnachi},
      title = {Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {35-39},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20140201.15},
      abstract = {The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among the newly admitted students of University of Jos, Jos Nigeria. A total of 300 newly admitted students were screened using rapid test (Global Rapid Diagnostic Kits USA) for the detection of HBsAg in serum samples from July 2010 to October 2010. The results obtained showed that 50(16.7%) were seropositive to HBsAg. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in males 34(11.33%) compared to 16(5.33%) in females. Age specific prevalence was significantly higher in the age bracket 25-29, with 16(28.57%) and the lowest was found in the age bracket 15 -19 years with 12(17.39%). The most important risk factors in the acquisition of HBsAg as revealed in this study appear to be: Family History of hepatitis, 11(36.6%), those with multiple sexual partners 4(13.79%), blood transfusion 3(13.64%), and tribal mark 3(13.04%). The prevalence of HBV recorded among newly admitted students in this study is probably a reflection of the situation in Nigerian Universities. Therefore, urgent preventive measures should be taken to set up campaign against transmission of HBV in University of Jos and the general population. To lower HBV prevalence, an adequate program of active screening and vaccination for students should be implemented, followed by a universal active immunization program.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen among the Newly Admitted Students of University of Jos, Nigeria
    AU  - Odinachi Okoh Ekuma
    AU  - John Danjuma Mawak
    AU  - Augustine Uwakwe
    AU  - Ogbonnaya Ogbu
    AU  - Felicia Ngozi Okoh
    AU  - Maduka Victor Agah
    AU  - Agwu Ulu Nnachi
    Y1  - 2014/02/28
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15
    T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    SP  - 35
    EP  - 39
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5737
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20140201.15
    AB  - The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among the newly admitted students of University of Jos, Jos Nigeria. A total of 300 newly admitted students were screened using rapid test (Global Rapid Diagnostic Kits USA) for the detection of HBsAg in serum samples from July 2010 to October 2010. The results obtained showed that 50(16.7%) were seropositive to HBsAg. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in males 34(11.33%) compared to 16(5.33%) in females. Age specific prevalence was significantly higher in the age bracket 25-29, with 16(28.57%) and the lowest was found in the age bracket 15 -19 years with 12(17.39%). The most important risk factors in the acquisition of HBsAg as revealed in this study appear to be: Family History of hepatitis, 11(36.6%), those with multiple sexual partners 4(13.79%), blood transfusion 3(13.64%), and tribal mark 3(13.04%). The prevalence of HBV recorded among newly admitted students in this study is probably a reflection of the situation in Nigerian Universities. Therefore, urgent preventive measures should be taken to set up campaign against transmission of HBV in University of Jos and the general population. To lower HBV prevalence, an adequate program of active screening and vaccination for students should be implemented, followed by a universal active immunization program.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Evangel University, Akaeze Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State

  • Department of Biochemistry, Evangel University, Akaeze Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State

  • Parasitology and Biomedical Diseases Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze Abakaliki, Ebonyi

  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State

  • Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

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