SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS AMONG STUDENTS OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBSAg) among students of Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from a total of one thousand (1000) students and screened using the one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip (Diaspot HBSAg). The screening revealed that 43 (4.30%) subjects out of the total 1000 screened were positive for HBSAg. The age distribution of HBV infection among the subjects showed that age group 17-20 years had 1 (0.3%) positive out of the 322 subjects screened, 21-24 years had 31 (8.1%) positive out of the 381 screened while 25-28 years had 11 (3.97%) positive out of the 297 subjects screened. The gender distribution of HBV infection revealed prevalence rates of 3.0% and 5.5% for the males and the females respectively. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of HBV infection with respect to age and sex in the study area (p<0.05). The result of this study suggests a declining trend in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in the study area, it however underscores the need for a renewed campaign on the essence of vaccination against HBV.