Detection Of Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) Antibody Among Children In Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody and risk factors of transmission among children in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria. In order to estimate the prevalence rate of HCV and to evaluate the influence of children demographics on HCV seropositivity, a well-designed questionnaire was used to obtain data considered risk factors for contracting HCV from consenting children. This study was conducted between August 2011 and October 2011. Thereafter, 217 apparently healthy male and female children were consecutively selected. A total of 217 blood samples were collected from children attending the Oni Memorial Children Hospital, Ibadan. The male:female ratio was 1:1. Majority of the children were females [109(50.2%)] while males were [108(49.8%). Blood samples were screened by parallel diagnostic method using Dia Spot® HCV test kit and Global One Step Strip Style HCV test kit (Global Diagnostic Canada) for HCV antibody. Overall prevalence rate of HCV antibody was 0.9%. It showed that HCV prevalence was higher among children aged less than 10 years, a total of 192 samples were tested, of which four (4) tested positive for HCV, thus, giving the prevalence of 2.0%. The other age groups showed zero seroposivity for HCV. HCV was only found to be higher among male children [3(1.8%)] than their female counterparts [1(0.9%)]. HCV prevalence was higher among children without history of vaccinations [2(4.9%)] than their counterparts with history of vaccinations [2(1.1%)]. There was significant association (p<0.05) between age, sex, history of vaccinations and HCV infection acquisition among these population. This study however confirmed the presence of HCV among children in Oyo State, Nigeria. General surveillance and public health education to stop the spread of the infection among children in Ibadan and indeed the whole society is advocated.