Prevalence of Hepatitis B among Food Vendors in Wurukum Market, Makurdi Benue State
V. U. Obisike
Department of Zoology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
C. M. Uke
Department of Biological Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
E. U. Amuta
Department of Zoology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hepatitis B is a life threatening infectious liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV among food vendors in Wurukum, a highly commercial section of metropolitan Makurdi in Benue State. The test was carried out with the use of an immunochromatographic micropoint HBsAg test strips and a HBsAg buffer screen for the virus. Out of the 250 non-vaccinated food vendors sampled, 27(10.8%) had HBV infection, with more in males (21.7%) than in females (6.6%). No significant difference (p>0.05) was found among age groups in spite of the observed highest prevalence of 14.3% among the 20-29 year olds. Therefore, the need for routine screening cannot be overemphasized in spite of known risk factors among food vendors.
Keywords: HBV, food vendors.