The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in nigerian children prior to vaccine introduction into the national programme onimmunization schedule

Abstract

IntroductionHepatitis B virus infection is a major global health problem of public health importance. In a bid to control the infection, the Nigerian government in 2004 introduced hepatitis B vaccine into the National Program on Immunization. There are no studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B in adolescent prior to 2004. The study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence and predictors of viral Hepatitis B in Nigerian children aged 11-19 years.MethodsA cross sectional analytical study was conducted in July 2014. Multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 749 children from six secondary schools in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Cross River State Medical Ethical Committee. A validated structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from participants following parental consent. Blood samples were obtained for qualitative detection of HBsAg using rapid chromatographic immunoassays with test kits from ABON (China) having sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of >99%, 97% and 98.5% respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.2.ResultsNine of the749 students screened were positive for HBsAg giving an overall prevalence of 1.2%. The sex specific prevalence was 0.8% for males and 1.8% for females. After multivariate analysis, age was the predictor of hepatitis B infection (OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.22-12.63; p-value 0.02).ConclusionThe prevalence of HBV infection was low. Despite the low prevalence, the introduction of the vaccine is justifiable in view of the public health importance of the infection.

Hepatitis B virus sequencing and liver fibrosis evaluation in HIV/HBV co‐infected Nigerians

“…Studies in other parts of the world have demonstrated increasing 'a' determinant mutations over time, likely related to the expansion of hepatitis B vaccination [45]. In Nigeria, the hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in 1995, however not widely available until 2004 [46,47]. Patients in this study were all born prior to 2004, although vaccination history was not available in our study patients.…”

Seasonal variation of hepatitis B and C virus infection among HIV- and non-HIV-infected patients in Benin City, Nigeria

“…Sub-Saharan Africa is reported to have the highest burden of HBV and HCV infection in the world [1,2]. As a result of shared routes of transmission, co-infection of HCV and HBV is common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients [3,4].…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B among School Adolescents in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria

“…For comparing two proportions, the sample size formula used was n = (Zα/2+Zβ)2 * (p1(1-p1)+p2(1-p2)) / (p1-p2)2, where n is the sample size for a proportion, Zα/2 is the critical value of the Normal distribution at α/2 (for a confidence level of 95%, α is 0.05 and the critical value is 1.96), Zβ is the critical value of the Normal distribution at β (for a power of 80%, β is 0.2 and the critical value is 0.84) and p1 and p2 are the expected sample proportions of the two groups. For detecting a difference between two proportions, p1 was taken as 0.3 and p2 as 0.2 (Ikobah et al, 2016). Imputing values, n = (1.96+ 0.84)2 * (0.…”

“…1.2%. A 2014 study among Nigerian children 11-19 years found a sex specific prevalence of 0.8% for males and 1.8% for females and a prevalence rate of 1.2% (Ikobah et al, 2016).…”