Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Abdullateef Sule
Accepted Abstracts: J Antivir Antiretrovir
Introduction: Hepatitis B and C virus infections are global public health challenge especially in developing countries of Sub- Saharan Africa and East Asia. However, in Nigeria, there is a relatively very low awareness about it and little or no known well coordinated strategy to combat this silent killers ?Hepatitis B and C? compares to HIV/AIDS. The aim of this was to compare the seroprevalences of Hepatitis B and C virus infections to HIV among apparently healthy residents of Ilorin town, in North- Central, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July, 2012 to September, 2012 among apparently healthy populace of Ilorin town, Kwara state, North Central Nigeria. Socio-demographic and possible risk factors data were collected from 941 apparently healthy residents using a structured interviewed administered questionnaire. Venous bloods were collected and the serums were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody using rapid Immunochromatography assay. HIV Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) was used to determine the HIV status. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS software package (version 20). Chi-square and Binary regression were used to assess risk of association. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The response rate was 99%. The prevalence of Hepatitis B, C and HIV were 18.9%, 0.10% and 0.40% respectively. Most of the respondents (35.1%) were within 21-30 years age group. Majority of the respondents were Muslim (96.4%), male (54.2%), married (59.4%) and 62.6% attained tertiary educational level. Past history of surgery, scarification marks and jaundice were factors found to increase the likelihood of contracting Hepatitis B with odd ratio of 2.027, 2.076 and 2.523 respectively. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection comparatively poses a greater public problem than HIV or hepatitis C infection in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria. There is urgent need for a well coordinated strategy similar to that of HIV/AID to curb the surge of this ?silent killer? Hepatitis B virus infection.