The incidence of Hepatits B virus infection among patients at the specialist teaching hospital, Irrua, Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

This cross sectional retrospective study was designed to review the medical records of patients admitted at the Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, between 1st June, 2010 and 1st June, 2013, to ascertain the incidence pattern of Hepatitis B infection among the patients. A total of 4536 patient’s medical records were reviewed and the data obtained were analyzed using the computer statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 16). The results showed that out of the 4536 patients admitted during the period under review, only 34 (0.7%) of the patients had hepatitis B virus infection as against 4502 pateints (99.3%) without the infection. Also, among those with HBV infection, 21 of them (61.8%) were males, while 13 (38.2) were females; with majority of them (32.4%; n=34) within the age group of 36-45. Most of the infected patients were traders (23.5%) and/or educated up to the secondary school level only (38.2%), while a few of them (8.8%) were unemployed and/or had only primary level of education (26.5%). These findings undoubtedly affirm the calim that HBV infection is endemic in populations across Sub-Saharan Africa; including Nigeria and with ‘tints’ of age, gender, and educational level variations.

Key words: Carriers, Hepatitis B, Patients, ISTH Irrua