Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus antibody in public servants of Enugu state of Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Objective
Chronic hepatitis B or C affects one out of every twelve persons globally. As part of the global campaign against hepatitis, the authors seized the opportunity of the 2010 World Hepatitis Day to undertake a Hepatitis C
screening exercise for civil servants of Enugu State of Nigeria.
Method
Civil servants of Enugu State attached to the Government House, Enugu were screened for anti-HCV antibody using a third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Risk factors for Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV) infection were also determined using a structured questionnaire.
Results
Four hundred and one (401) civil servants were screened during the exercise (211 males or 52.6% and 190 females or 47.6%). Seven (7) of them were anti-HCV seropositive (1.75%). Among the putative risk factors for HCV infection, none was significantly more frequent in the anti-HCV seropositive subjects compared to their anti-HCV seronegative counterparts.
Conclusion
The sero-prevalence of anti-HCV antibody in civil servants of Enugu State of Nigeria is 1.75%. Seropositive subjects had a higher frequency of past history of jaundice. There is an urgent need to intensify preventive
measures to ensure that the sero-prevalence remains low or even lower in the community in order not to add to the burden of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection.

Key words: Hepatitis C Virus, Anti-HCV, Prevalence.