Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and its associated risk factors among large truck drivers and their assistants in Zamfara State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Hepatitis B is a viral hepatitis of global public health concern causing inflammation, liver damage, and occasionally cancer. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among truck drivers and their assistants towards guiding health campaigns aimed at its possible eradication. This was a cross-sectional study that included 264 consenting adult male truckers and assistants aged 19–70 years recruited from large truck transit parks in Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria. The data collection spanned three months from December 2022 to February 2023. All participants completed a questionnaire to assess their risk of exposure and were screened for hepatitis B virus. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 20.8% in the study participants. Truck assistants were 2.4 times (p-value <0.01) more likely to be HBV positive than the actual drivers. Unprotected multiple sex (p-value = 0.00; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.40 – 5.43), family history of HBV infection (p-value < 0.01; AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.62 – 7.49) and sharing of personal hygiene items (p-value < 0.01; AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.58 – 9.35) were statistically significant risk factor for contracting HBV infection. Hepatitis B virus positivity was significantly (p<0.05) associated with age, education, and marital statuses of the participants. This study unravelled high prevalence of HBV in the study population. The population being a highly mobile one calls for concern as it could be a vehicle for the disease's rapid transmission. Therefore, more resources should be apportioned to scale up
interventions such as vaccination, rigorous test campaigns and increasing capacity to deliver effective treatments.