Serological screening of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among patients attending a tertiary hospital in Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The rising prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infection as single or co-infection among the Nigerian populace and their association with hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious health issue. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among patients seen in a tertiary health facility in Jalingo. Settings and Design: This is a cross-sectional and prospective study carried out among patients at a tertiary health-care facility in Jalingo, Taraba state of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 513 patients were screened for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid chromatographic immunoassays for their qualitative detection in plasma. Result: Of the 513 patients screened, 70 (13.60%), 85 (16.6%), and 5 (1.0%) were positive of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and co-infection, respectively. About 14.7% and 20.1% were the highest gender-based prevalence recorded for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively, and they were recorded for the male gender. Age group 21–40 years had the highest prevalence rate of 19.2% for HBsAg, whereas age-group 61 years and above had a high prevalence of 31.3%. Conclusion: The high prevalence rates obtained from this study for both viral hepatitis calls for augmentation of existing interventions toward the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases. Further studies aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the interventions are highly recommended.

Keywords

• Age
• co-infection
• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• prevalence
• sex
• Taraba