Prevalence of Hepatitis A among internally displaced persons in Municipal Area Council, Abuja - Nigeria

Abstract

Hepatitis A can be life threatening especially in epidemics and can cause extensive economic loss. Hepatitis A virus, the cause of hepatitis A found is mostly present in faeces of persons who are infected and spread by ingesting water or food that has been contaminated. This study was carried to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, among internally displaced persons in Municipal Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were used to generate information on socio-demographic and risks factors. Four hundred and fifty participants (142 males, 308 females) were tested for hepatitis A virus using immunochromatography method. Statistical tools used to investigate data collected were Chi-square analysis, bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA). The mean age of the population studied was 22 years. The seroprevalence of hepatitis A among the IDPs was 2.4%. Bivariate analysis did not disclose any significant risk factors to hepatitis A. However, multiple logistic regression revealed there was a non-significant 2.6 higher odds of contracting hepatitis A in age group less than 24 years and 1.6 higher odds in subjects whose area of defaecation was in the bush. This study concludes that hepatitis A had a prevalence of 2.4% among the internally displaced persons in the 3 camps studied. However creation of awareness on hepatitis A and factors that pose risk to infection is recommended within the IDP camps, effective vaccinations should be made accessible to the residents of the camps to prevent possible epidemic.