Original research hepatitis b infection among rural dwellers in central Nigeria

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease of public health concern with a high burden of this disease in Africa and Nigeria. In the rural setting, the high prevalence is further complicated by poor access to both immunization and treatment. The study explores the prevalence of hepatitis B in Jengre, a rural community in central Nigeria, with the aim of highlighting its problems and stimulating action.

It was a retrospective study utilizing secondary data from all 1,347 patients tested for hepatitis B in Jengre SDA Hospital over a one-year period.

The prevalence of hepatitis B in Jengre was found to be 12.2%. Among the prospective blood donors alone, the prevalence was 11.7%.

It was concluded that the village of Jengre is hyperendemic for hepatitis B. Governments and international agencies therefore need to prioritize hepatitis B control systems in endemic rural locations like Jengre to ensure the elimination of hepatitis B as a public health concern by 2030 is realized.

Keywords: Hepatitis, Nigeria, epidemiology, prevalence, HBV