Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence and association with demographics: report of population screening in Nigeria

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C remain a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide with its attendant consequences. The burden of these viral infections in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria rely on estimates based on small population studies in some select populations. We present the report of a population survey in Nigeria during the period 2010–2012. A total of 5,558 adults participated in the screening exercise. The minimum age recorded was 18 years, while the maximum age was 75 years. The mean ± S.D. was 36.07 ± 8.76 years. The prevalence of hepatitis B (HBsAg) among the adults screened was determined to be 6.7% while that of hepatitis C (HCV) was 0.9%. The peak prevalence for HBsAg carriage was in the third to fourth decade in keeping with childhood acquisition while of HCV antibody was in the sixth to seventh decade. Male gender was significantly associated with HBsAg carriage while we noted a higher prevalence in those within the lower socioeconomic status. Overall our findings suggest that hepatitis B is endemic in Nigeria, much less than previously reported, while the prevalence for HCV is low although reports of pockets of high prevalence exist in select populations (hospital patients including those living with HIV).