Hepatitis e prevalence, knowledge, and practice of preventive measures among secondary school adolescents in rural Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu,Henry Chima Okpara,Jacinta Chinyere Elo-Ilo,John Onuora Chukwuka,Chizalu Ifeyinwa Ndukwu,Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu,Ifeoma Egbuonu,Joy Chinelo Ebenebe

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11702-y

Abstract

BackgroundCurrently, there is a paucity of data on the knowledge and practice of preventive measures for Hepatitis E infection in Nigerian populations. This study provided data on the prevalence, knowledge and practices of prevention in an adolescent population from Nigeria.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 months among rural Nigerian secondary school adolescents. An interviewer-based questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic profile, knowledge, and practice of preventive measures for Hepatitis E infection. Blood samples collected from participants were analysed for Hepatitis E IgG using Elisa Kits (Sigma Diagnostics, USA). Data were analysed using SPSS software version 20.0. Tests of association were done with a level of significance set at 5%.ResultsA total of 9 out of the 414 participants tested positive for Hepatitis E IgG antibodies giving a prevalence of 2.2%. Significant factors for Hepatitis E infection were male gender {P = 0.004} and school {P < 0.001, however logistic regression gave infinite value. Most participants (98.6%) had poor knowledge of Hepatitis E infection, 239(57.7%) had good preventive practices, while 175(42.3%) had average preventive practices.ConclusionA low prevalence of HEV infection was recorded among study participants. There was poor knowledge of Hepatitis E, and association could not be established between HEV infection and individual preventive practices.

Highlights

There is a paucity of data on the knowledge and practice of preventive measures for Hepatitis E infection
Four hundred and twenty adolescents participated in the study
The seroprevalence of Hepatitis E infection was 2.2% in this study. This seroprevalence rate is lower than 6.5% recorded by Bugaje et al [10] among secondary school students in Kaduna state, North-west Nigeria, 7.7% by Ekanem et al [9] among children in Cross River State, South-south Nigeria; 13.4% by Adesina et al [20] in Ekiti state, southwestern Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

There is a paucity of data on the knowledge and practice of preventive measures for Hepatitis E infection in Nigerian populations. This study provided data on the prevalence, knowledge and practices of prevention in an adolescent population from Nigeria. 20.1 million people are estimated to have Hepatitis E infection every year. The concern about the potential long term complications has made its screening to be part of the screening guidelines for blood product transfusion in some developed countries [7]. This has led to a growing call for the Hepatitis E vaccine based on the disease burden.

Methods

Results

Conclusion