A Comparative Study on Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroprevalence between Outpatients in Public and Private Hospitals within Kaduna Metropolis Nigeria

Abstract

Viral hepatitis which is characterized by inflammation and damage to the liver due to prolong infections by Hepatitis viruses is a rising global problem, especially in developing countries including Nigeria. Over 350 million people suffer chronically from Hepatitis B Virus infection. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), though disappears after six months in acute cases, is a marker for the Hepatitis B Virus in chronic infections. Three hundred Outpatients in six hospitals were sampled in this study. One hundred and fifty samples were collected in equal proportion from outpatients in 3 public hospitals and the other 150 samples from 3 private hospitals within the Kaduna metropolis respectively. They were screened for HBsAg which is a marker for HBV infections. A prevalence rate of 9.33% was obtained among outpatients in public hospitals and 10.67% among those in private hospitals. This prevalence rates were both categorized as high based on the World Health Organization endemicity classification for HBV infections. There were significant associations between Rhesus factor ( ), sharing of clothes or beddings infected persons ( ), persons from positive family history ( ), Individual level of education ( ) and seropositivity for HBsAg. These were observed as potential risk factors among outpatients in private hospitals. On the other hand there were no significant associations between the risks factors above and HBsAg seroprevalence among outpatients in public hospitals.