Hepatitis B virus infections in apparently healthy urban Nigerians: data from pre-vaccination tests.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the availability of an effective vaccine since 1982 against hepatitis B, infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV, still persists in most parts of the world with Nigeria being described as an endemic zone. We therefore set out to establish the prevalence of this infection and evaluate its relationship with age and gender in urban Nigerians. METHODOLOGY: During pre-vaccination tests, blood samples were collected by finger-prick and venepuncture from 1,891 subjects aged < or = 60 years, between 2008 and 2009 after having obtained informed consent and ethical clearance. Smart Check HBsAg (Globalemed, Cape Town, South Africa) and ShantestTM-HBsAg Elisa (Shantha Biotechnics Ltd, Hyderabad, India) were used for initial and confirmatory tests respectively. RESULTS: Of the 1,891 participants, 957 (50.6 %) were males and 934 (49.4%) were females. Overall 114 (6.0%) were positive, of whom 71 (7.4%) were males and 43 (4.6%) females. Those aged 21-30 years had the highest infection rate, and males were more likely to be infected with the virus than females (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Such a high prevalence of a vaccine-preventable infection questions the effectiveness of the Nigerian vaccination strategies. The Nigerian government hepatitis B vaccination programme, which hitherto is limited to the National Childhood Immunisation Programme, should include the adult population.

Human immunonodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus: sero-prevalence, co-infection and risk factors among prison inmates in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Published data on HIV, HBV, and HCV in correctional facilities in Nigeria is scarce. We set out to establish the seroprevalence, co-infection, and risk factors for these infections for the first time among prison inmates in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: In a cross-sectional study conducted between April and May, 2007, blood samples were collected from 300 male prisoners of a mean age of 29.2 years, in the state's four medium-security prisons (overall population: 587). Prior to the study, ethical clearance and informed consent were obtained and structured questionnaires were administered. Samples were analyzed for HIV, HBsAg, and HCV using anti-HIV 1+2-EIA-avicenna, Shantest-HBsAg ELISA, and anti-HCV-EIA-avicenna, respectively. Specimens initially reactive for HIV were retested with vironostika microelisa. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. P values < or = 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Of the 300 subjects, 54 (18.0 %), 69 (23.0 %), and 37 (12.3 %) tested positive for HIV, HBV, and HCV, respectively. Co-infections were eight (2.7 %) for HIV/HBV and two (0.7 %) for HBV/HCV. Those aged 21-26 years were more likely to be infected with HIV and HBV, while those aged 33-38 years had the highest HCV infection. Associated risk factors included duration in prison, previous incarceration (for HIV, HBV and HCV), intra-prison anal sex, multiple sex partners (for HIV and HBV), ignorance of transmission modes, blood transfusion, and alcohol consumption (for HBV and HCV). No inmate injected drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The overall outcome represents the need for prison-focused intervention initiatives in Nigeria. Injected drug use is an unlikely major transmission mode among Nigerian inmates.

Human immunonodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus: sero-prevalence, co-infection and risk factors among prison inmates in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Background: Published data on HIV; HBV; and HCV in correctional facilities in Nigeria is scarce. We set out to establish the seroprevalence; co-infection; and risk factors for these infections for the first time among prison inmates in Nasarawa State; Nigeria. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study conducted between April and May; 2007; blood samples were collected from 300 male prisoners of a mean age of 29.2 years; in the state's four medium-security prisons (overall population: 587). Prior to the study; ethical clearance and informed consent were obtained and structured questionnaires were administered. Samples were analyzed for HIV; HBsAg; and HCV using anti-HIV 1 +2-EIA- avicenna; ShantestTM-HBsAg ELISA; and anti-HCV-EIA-avicenna; respectively. Specimens initially reactive for HIV were retested with vironostika microelisa. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. P values = 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of the 300 subjects; 54 (18.0); 69 (23.0); and 37 (12.3) tested positive for HIV; HBV; and HCV; respectively. Co-infections were eight (2.7) for HIV/HBV and two (0.7) for HBV/HCV. Those aged 21-26 years were more likely to be infected with HIV and HBV; while those aged 33-38 years had the highest HCV infection. Associated risk factors included duration in prison; previous incarceration (for HIV; HBV and HCV); intra-prison anal sex; multiple sex partners (for HIV and HBV); ignorance of transmission modes; blood transfusion; and alcohol consumption (for HBV and HCV). No inmate injected drugs. Conclusions: The overall outcome represents the need for prison-focused intervention initiatives in Nigeria. Injected drug use is an unlikely major transmission mode among Nigerian inmates