PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B ANTIBODY AND CO-INFECTION WITH MALARIA PARASITE AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING CENTAL HOSPITALBENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

In Africa, both malaria and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are common infections, although concurrent infections of these two human pathogens are likely to occur, knowledge about their prevalence and potential significance is poor. In Nigeria, malaria is more commonly reported and appears to be more prevalent than hepatitis. A cross-sectional study conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B antibody and co infection with malaria parasite among the general population attending Central hospital Benin City, Edo state. The Hepatitis B Virus was determined using hepatitis B strip test kit (acumen diagnostic test) while the Plasmodium was examined using microscopy. A total of 150 persons were examined, 6(4%) tested positive to Hepatitis B virus antibody. However the finding shows that malaria was high with prevalence of 108 (72%) of the total test population examined. A co-infection of 6(5.6%) was associated with Hepatitis B and malaria in the study. Age related prevalence showed that the age range 21-25 had the most attendance of 40 and a prevalence of 30 (75%) malaria cases and 2 (5%) for hepatitis B with P value >0.05. Risk factors related prevalence showed that out of 92 patients that take drugs on self-medication 69 (75%) had malaria and 5(5.4%) had hepatitis B antibody. Also, there was no prevalence of Hepatitis B antibodies among those that had tattoo, smokes, transfused with blood and had multiple sex partners. Out of 62 pregnant women examined, 3 (4.8%) had hepatitis B and 42 (67.7%) had malaria parasite. In conclusion this study shows that the relationship of co-infection of Hepatitis B virus and malaria parasite infections among the study population was not significant as P-value was greater than 0.05. Health organizations should organize awareness programs for hepatitis B and its vaccination and government should create good drainage systems that would help reduce flood and pools of water from our surroundings.