SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING SUMAS MEDICAL CENTER, IGBO-ENO, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1002-4207Keywords:
Seropositive, Seroprevalence, Hepatitis B Virus, Infection, ParticipantsAbstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant public health problem worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with HBV infection among patients attending SUMAS Medical Center, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from consenting patients and screened for HBV infection by detecting the presence of HBsAg. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Eleven out of the 200 samples collected were HBV seropositive, giving an overall seroprevalence of 5.5%. A higher HBV prevalence (81.8%) was recorded among participants who were sexually active compared to those who were not (P= 0.002, χ2=9.755, df=1). HBV prevalence was higher (63.6%) in the group of participants that usually share sharps compared to those who do not (P=0.003, χ2= 8.570, df=1). Out of the eleven participants who were HBV seropositive, none of them was vaccinated for HBV, hence there was a zero prevalence of HBV in relation to vaccination (χ2=1.012, P=0.314, df=1). Participants who were living with family members infected with HBV had a prevalence of 54.5% which was higher than the 45.5 % recorded in those who were not living with family members infected with HBV (χ2 =67.838, P=0.000, df=1). The study revealed an intermediate seroprevalence of HBV infection, and highlighted variables such as sharing of sharps, being sexually active and living with a family member that has HBV infection as risk factors significantly associated with high HBV infection.
References
Ageely, H., Mahfouz, M.S., Gaffar, A., Elmakki, E., Elhassan, I., Yasin, A.O. & Bani, I. (2015). Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. Health 7 (04), 459–465.
Alassan, K.S., Imorou, R.S., Sonombiti, H., Salifou, K. & Ouendo, E. (2021). Seroprevalence de l’infection par Le virus de l’hepatite B et Les facteurs associes Chez Les etudiants En premiere annee de medecine generale a l’universite de Parakou En republique du benin, En 2018. Ann L’Université Parakou Sér Sci Santé;11(1):24–7.
Athalye, S., Khargekar, N., Shinde, S., Parmar,T., Chavan, S., Swamidurai,G…Banerjee, A. (2023). Exploring risk factors and transmission dynamics of Hepatitis B infection among Indian families: Implications and perspective. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 16 (7), Pages 1109-1114.
Banach, M. (2022). Global, regional, and National burden of hepatitis B, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019. GBD 2019 hepatitis B collaborator. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol;7(9)
Bhattarai, S., Smriti, K.C.., Pradhan, P.M., Lama, S. & Rijal, S. (2014). Hepatitis B vaccination status and needle-stick and sharps-related Injuries among medical school students in Nepal: a cross-sectional study. BMC Research Notes, 7:774
Debsikréo, N., Mankréo, B.L., Moukénet, A., Ouangkake, M., Mara, N., Moussa, A.M., Toure-Kane, N.C., & Lunel-Fabian, F. (2024). Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and its associated factors among students in n’djamena, Chad. PLoS ONE;19(4): e0273589
Easterbrook, P., Luhmann, N., Newman, M., Walsh, N., Lesi, O. & Doherty, M. (2021). New WHO guidance for country validation of viral hepatitis B and C elimination. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol; 6(10):778–80. 10
Ejele, O., Erhabor, O. & Nwauche, C. (2005). The risk of transfusion-transmissible viral infections in the Niger-Delta area of Nigeria. Sahel Med J; 8(1): 16-19
Ekouevi, D., Thomas, A., Sewu, D., Lawson-Ananissoh, L., Tchounga, B., Salou, M., Ketoh, G., David, M., Coffie, P. and Redah, D. (2017) Prevalence of Hepatitis B among Students from the University of Lomé, Togo in 2015. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 7, 262-272. https://doi.org.10.4236/ojepi.2017.73020
Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria (2019). Nigeria HIV/AIDS indicator and impact survey (NAIIS) 2018: technical report. Abuja, Nigeria
He, J., Gu, D., Wu, X., Reynolds, K., Duan, X., Yao, C…Whelton, P.K. (2005). Major causes of death among men and women in China. N Engl. J. Med. 353(11), 1124–1134
Hou, J., Liu, Z. & Gu, F. Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection (2005). Int. J. Med. Sci. 2(1), 50
Hsu Y. C., Huang D. Q. & Nguyen M. H. (2023). Global Burden of Hepatitis B Virus: Current Status, Missed Opportunities and a Call for Action. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology; 20(8):524–537
Jibrin, B., Jiya, N.M. & Ahmed, H. (2014). Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen in children with sickle cell anemia. Sahel Med J; 17:15-18
Lin, C. L., & Kao, J. H. (2013). Risk stratification for hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 28(1), 10–17
Mado Sani, M.; Idris Hafsat, W.; Abdullahi Sakinatu, M.; Ibrahim, Aliyu; Sani, Musa; Yakubu Alhassan, M. (2018). Prevalence of Hepatitis B Viral Infection at Paediatric Gastroenterology Clinic of ABUTH, Zaria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 15(2): p 114-117.
Magalhães, M.J. & Pedroto, I. (2015). Hepatitis B Virus Inactive Carriers: Which Follow-up Strategy? GE Port J Gastroenterol.19;22(2):47-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpge.2015.01.009
Mongo-Onkouo, A., Kanga Okandze, A., Ahoui Apendi, C. P., Bossali, F., Itoua-Ngaporo, N. A., Mimiesse Monamou, J. F., Ibara, J.-R. (2021). Séroprévalence des Virus des Hépatites B et C chez les Étudiants à Brazzaville. Health Sciences And Disease, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/hsd.v22i2.2540
Musa, B., Samaila, A., Femi, O., Borodo, M. & Bussell, S. (). Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria, 2000-2013: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Niger J Clin Pract. 2015 Mar-Apr;18(2):163–72. https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-3077.151035
Naing, L., Winn, T. & Rusli, B.N. (2006). Practical issues in calculating the sample size for prevalence studies. Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 1, 9-14
Nejo, Y., Faneye, A.O., Olusola, B., Bakarey, S., Olayinka, A., Motayo, B. (2018). PERVI Study Group. Hepatitis B virus infection among sexually active individuals in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J; 30:155
Olokoba, A.B., Salawu, K.F., Danburam, A., Desalu, O.O., Olokoba, L.B., Wahab, KW. (2009). Viral Hepatitis in voluntary blood donors in Yola, Nigeria. European Journal of Science Research; 3:329–34
Price, H., Dunn, D., Zachary, T., Vudriko, T., Chirara, M., Kityo, C… Gilks C. (2017). Hepatitis B serological markers and plasma DNA concentrations. AIDS; 31(8):1109–1117
Rakesh, P.S., Sherin, D., Hari, S., Subhagan, S., Shaji, M. & Salila, K. (2014). Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus among adults in a rural village in Kollam district, southern India, TropGastroenterol J Dig Dis Found, 35, pp. 232-237
Roberts, H., Jiles, R., Harris, A.M.,Gupta N. & Teshale E. (2021). Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Hepatitis B, United States, 2013 – 2018. Sex Transm Dis.; 48(4): 305–309
Salkic, N.N., Zerem, E., Zildic, M., Ahmetagic, S., Cickusic, E. & Ljuca F. (2009). Risk factors for intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ann Saudi Med, 29, pp.41-45
Sheena, B. S., Hiebert, L., Han, H., Matthews, P. C., & Buendia Rodriguez, J. A. (2022). Global, regional, and national burden of hepatitis B, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 7(9), 796–829
Spearman, CW., Afihene, M., Ally,R., Apica,B., Awuku,Y., Cunha,L… Sonderup, M.W. (2017). Hepatitis B in sub-Saharan africa: strategies to achieve the 2030 elimination targets. Lancet Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2(12), 900–909
Tadewos, D., Tadesse, S., Ejajo, T. & Tadesse, T. (2024). Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among high school students in Shinshicho town, Southern Ethiopia. Health Serv Insights; 17:11786329241245232
Uleanya, N.D. & Obidike, E.O. (2015). Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus transmission among children in Enugu, Nigeria: Niger J Paed; 42 (3):199 –203
Umeanaeto, P.U., Dioji, V. C., Ifeanyichukwu, M.O., Onyido, A.E., Irikannu, K.C. & Okwelogu I.S. (2016). Malaria and Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection in Enugwu-Ukwu Community, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Ew J Epidemiol & Clin Med, 2(1): 14 – 21
World Health Organization (2024a). Implementing the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2022–2030: Report on Progress and Gaps 2024, Second Edition
World Health Organization (2024b). Global Hepatitis Report 2024: Action for Access in low- and middle-income Countries
WHO & Hepatitis, B. April 9. (2024c). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis–b
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Gideon Yakusak Benjamin, Chinagorom Laureta Ugwu, Emeka Daniel Ubanwa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
