Viral Hepatitis B Screening among Asymptomatic Patients of Liver Pathology in a Secondary Health-care Facility in Nigeria

Background: HBV infection is a serious ailment which damages the liver yet not well known and hence not given adequate attention. Many are infected but are not aware because they do not manifest any sign and symptom.

Aim: The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the prevalence of HBsAg among asymptomatic hospital attendees.

Study Design: A cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: St Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between November 2017 and August 2018.

Methodology: 1328 consecutive patients who attended the hospital were enrolled into this study after obtaining their consent. Their blood samples were aseptically collected and assayed for HBsAg using conventional method.

Results: A total of 1,328 participants were enrolled, out of which 421 (31.7%) were male and 907 (68.3%) were female with a gender ratio of 1:2.2 - male to female. 5.9% (25/421) of the males tested positive to HBsAg while 5.4% (49/907) of the females tested positive to HBsAg (p=0.692). Of the overall 1328 individuals screened, 5.6% tested positive to HBsAg. The age group with the highest prevalence of HBsAg were those between 51 and 60 years with 13.1% followed by 41 - 50 years (7.2%) while > 70 years had the lowest prevalence.

Conclusion: This study showed that HBsAg infection is high among asymptomatic hospital attendees in Ibadan, Nigeria. More public sensitization and awareness programmes are strongly advocated for.