Hepatitis B surface antigen among Nigerian students: a multi-campus study

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the incidence, screening, and risk factors of HepB virus infection among students in two tertiary educational institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. The multi-campus study was conducted among 354 students of the two institutions (177 per institution). A rapid diagnostic test kit was used in screening HepB surface antigen among the respondents. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The majority of the respondents on HepB virus infection testing in Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin (152, 85.9 %), and College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi (158, 89.3 %), were within the age range of 21-25 years. Age has been identified as a stronger influence of HepB infection on the respondents in Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and no such association was observed in the College of Education, (Technical), Lafiagi. In College of Education, (Technical), Lafiagi, there were significant associations between HepB virus infection and infected patients who drank alcohol, wore body tattoo, had pierced ear or body, involved in drug abuse, had blood transfusion history, multiple sex partners, shared toothbrushes, used utensils and shared sharp objects, while at Al-Hikmah University, there was no statistical association between social and medical variables and HepB infection. There was an HepB infection incidence rate of 0.6 % in Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and 1.7% in the College of Education, (Technical), Lafiagi. The incidence rates of HepB burden in both institutions were low. Significant correlates were associated with HepB infection.