Assessment of Prevalence of Hepatitis B Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Secondary School Students in a Low Resource Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria
Chinedu Nweke Idakari *
Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Department, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Ikechukwu Francis Agwu
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Patrick Chinazam Nwosu
Clinical Lead Rehabilitation and Quality Department, San Remo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 3550 Shiloh Road, Garland Texas, USA.
Uche-Omovoh Ifeoma Cecilia
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Ogochukwu Chioma
Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Center Keffi Nasarawa, Nigeria.
Chidiebere Brown Ene
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Winifred Chinwendu Akpa
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Uchenna Samuel Okparaoka
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Chinedum Christabel Amagwu
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Christian Obasi Akpa
Department of Community Medicine Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (Abakaliki), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Emelobe Godwin Macueley
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Ogechukwu Rejoice Idakari
Faculty of Law, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
Ezekwesili MaryJane Ngozi
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global public health challenge, with a particularly high burden in Africa, especially Nigeria. Secondary school adolescents constitute a high-risk group for HBV infection, primarily because they often lack adequate vaccination coverage and comprehensive knowledge of the infection’s modes of transmission. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and associated risk factors among secondary school students in Community Secondary School Ndufu Echara Ikwo of Ebonyi State Nigeria.
Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among secondary school students in Ndufu Echara Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was given to the students. Blood sample was collected from the consenting students and it was used to determine the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen.
Result: Three hundred secondary school students were enrolled into the study. There were more females (58%) than male students (42%). The mean age of the students was 16.5 years. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection was 5% and sharing of contaminated sharp objects was found to be the major risk factor with P ˂ 0.0001. There was poor knowledge of hepatitis B infection among the students and only 28.9% were vaccinated against the infection.
Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B infection is moderately elevated among Community Secondary School Ndufu Echara Ikwo students. The use of contaminated sharp objects was the major risk factor to hepatitis B infection transmission and students have poor knowledge of hepatitis B infection.
Keywords: Hepatitis B infection, associated, risk factor, secondary, school