The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in nigerian children prior to vaccine introduction into the national programme onimmunization schedule

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: hepatitis B virus infection is a major global health problem of public health importance. In a bid to control the infection, the Nigerian government in 2004 introduced hepatitis B vaccine into the National Program on Immunization. There are no studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B in adolescent prior to 2004.The study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence and predictors of viral Hepatitis B in Nigerian children aged 11-18 years. METHODS: a cross sectional analytical study was conducted in July 2014.Multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 749 children from six secondary schools in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Cross River State Medical Ethical Committee. A validated structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from participants following parental consent. Blood samples were obtained for qualitative detection of HBsAg using rapid chromatographic immunoassays with test kits from ABON (China) having sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 99%, 97% and 98.5% respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.2.

Keywords

• hepatitis b infection
• pre-routine immunization
• adolescents
• nigeria