Hepatitis B virus infection among sexually active individuals in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

IntroductionHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health challenge in sub-Saharan African countries. Chronic HBV infection is a risk factor for severe disease progression. Perinatal and sexual transmissions of Hepatitis B virus are the main routes of infection in HBV endemic countries like Nigeria. However, there is paucity of data as regards the major contributory route of transmission to chronic HBV infection in this region. Also, in Nigeria, not everyone at high risk of the infection has been identified. Therefore our study investigated the prevalence of HBV infection among sexually active individuals in Nigeria.MethodsBlood samples collected from 463 participants (360 sexually active individuals and 103 teenagers) recruited from health institutions across the country were tested for the presence of HBsAg, and HBV nucleic acid related antigen (HBVNRAg) by ELISA. Positive samples were further tested for the presence of HBeAg and antiHBe by ELISA. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and binary logistic regression at p = 0.05.ResultsHBsAg and HBVNRAg were detected in 10.4% and 7.6% of the participants respectively. STI clinic attendees had the highest prevalence for HBsAg (17%; p = 0.002). Teenagers had the lowest HBsAg (1.9; p = 0.002) and HBVNRAg (2.9%; p = 0.0001) prevalence rates. Male gender (p = 0.01) and reproductive age group (p=0.009) were the major predictors of chronic HBV infection.ConclusionSexual transmission was identified as the major contributor to chronic HBV infection. Sexually active individuals especially those with STIs are high risk groups for chronic HBV infection. Interventions targeted at this group is therefore recommended.

Prevalence of viral hepatitis B in Ghana between 2015 and 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, a similar prevalence rate of 8.50% was reported quite recently in an epidemiological study in 2012 [46]. The results of this review are lower than the >8.80% reported in other parts of West Africa [47][48][49] and the prevalence for the African region at large [2]. For instance, a meta-analysis reported that the pooled prevalence of HBV in the Nigerian population is 13.6% [50].…”

Evaluation of Serum Levels of HBV-DNA Concentration and HBSAG Titers of Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Subjects at NAUTH Nnewi

“…The >50 age group were the second to the least of the subjects (9% females and 12% for females). This finding is in agreement with that of Yewande et al, [27]. The children (<20) and the aged (>50) have less exposure to risky behaviours than the middle aged (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40).…”

“…The sex distribution of the subjects in this study showed that there were more males 100(57.2%) males and 76(42.8%) females. This shows that HBV infection is more prevalent in males than females and the finding is in keeping with the findings of Yewande et al, [27] which reported males are 2.8 times more likely to get infected with HBV compared to their female counterparts [7]. This could be due to the fact that males are more prone to risk factors and behaviors sexual intercourse, injection drug use, barbing et ce tera which predispose them to HBV infection.…”

Infectious Hepatitis B Negatively Impacts Lifestyles of Affected Individuals in Ejura-Sekyedumasi District of Ghana

“…Both health care workers and those who inject drugs into their veins are at risk in this way [14,31].  Having sex with a person infected by HBV is an important risk factor (especially anal sex) [32].…”