Serodiagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Jessu Community of Gombe State, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus causes disease of the liver and is a global health problem that leads to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the dangers posed by this silent and deadly disease, there is little or no documented work on Hepatitis B infections in Jessu community, Gombe State, North East Nigeria. This study was undertaken to determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus infection and possible risk factors associated with the transmission of HBV. Blood samples (3ml) were collected from 196 eligible consented subjects and the serum samples were tested for the presence of HBsAg using On Site HBsAg Rapid Test Kit manufactured by CTK Biotech, USA. The OnSite HBV 5-Parameter Rapid Test also manufactured by CTK Biotech, USA was used to confirm those that were positive. Of the 196 eligible subjects examined, 5.6% were confirmed positive for HBsAg, 8.6% were males and 2.9% were females. Age distribution of HBsAg among the population shows the highest seroprevalence of 8.9% HBsAg in ages 16-30 years, followed by 4.5% in ages 31-45 years while ages 0-15 years had 3.5% seroprevalence. Participants who share sharp objects recorded the highest prevalence of 6.3% HCV infection followed by blood transfusion with 5.9% prevalence and those with multiple sex partners had the least prevalence of 1.8% HCV infection. The seroprevalence of 5.6% HBV in this study indicated the presence of HBV in Jessu Community in Gombe State, North East Nigeria.