Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in AkokoEdo
Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.
Study Design: The study focused on socio-demographic characteristics of volunteers
such as age, sex, marital status and location.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out among apparently healthy
individuals of Akoko-Edo Local government area of Edo State, Nigeria between October
2012 and December 2012.
Methodology: The HBsAg one step hepatitis B surface antigen test strip, a rapid
chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen
in serum/plasma, was used for screening the volunteers.
Result: Out of the 455 volunteers screened, 125 people (27.5 %) were positive which
consist of 49 male (28.7%) and 76 females (26.8%). Age related prevalence for HBsAg
was 18.2 % and 9.2% among those aged 10-40 and 40-70 years respectively. Amongsingle individuals of 101, prevalence of 25.3% was recorded while only 6% (24) was
recorded as prevalence among married individuals. This study also reveals that the
highest prevalence of HBsAg was observed in Ojirami-Dam community with 40.3%
prevalence while the least was observed in Umeme-Osu community with 16.4%
prevalence.
Conclusion: This study shows high prevalence of hepatitis B among children and young
adult in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The incidence of the
infection among individuals between ages of 10-40 years with 83 people infected (66.4%)
calls for concern among the people of the area. This provides evidence for urgent public
awareness and mass immunization of the people in area.