Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Pennap G R I and Chuga F J
Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Antivir Antiretrovir
Infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus are significant emerging public health problems in Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among apparently healthy people. Two hundred blood samples were screened for HBV and HCV using a rapid chromatographic immunoassay test kit. Of these, 10.5% were reactive for HBsAg, 20.5% for HCV and 1.5% had a co-infection. The gender specific prevalence rates of 9.0% and 12.5% were recorded among the females and males for HBV respectively, while for HCV, the prevalence of 20.7% was recorded among females and 20.2% among males. Co-infection was 2.2% and 0.9% for males and females respectively (P>0.05). The highest prevalence of HBV (12.9%) was recorded among participants aged 16-30 years while it was least (4.3%) among those aged 1-15 years. The highest prevalence of HCV (25.8%) was among those aged 16-30 years and least (8.7%) among those aged 1-15 years. There was no statistically significant relationship between viral infection and age, gender, marital status, history of blood transfusion, educational level, occupation and scarification marks (P>0.05). The high prevalence rates are a cause for alarm especially as it is among apparently healthy people. Patients should be screened at the point of care as a prelude to treatment and likewise prospective blood donors.
Pennap G R I is a Microbiology Lecturer with Nasarawa State University Keffi. Her field of interest is Viral Epidemiology where she has 39 peer reviewed publications in reputed Scientific Journals and has contributed a chapter each in two text books.
Email: rinmecit.grace@yahoo.com