Knowledge of transmission Sharing of sharp objects SERO-PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN AMONG SOME SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ZARIA, NIGERIA *Aminu M, Bdliya MI, Ashafa, AM Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria   Corresponding Author: Dr. Maryam Aminu; maryamaminu@yahoo.com; 08033287031 37TH NIGERIAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY CONFERENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. 2ND-5TH SEPTEMBER 2014 1. INTRODUCTION Table 1: Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus serological markers among Secondary School Students in Zaria, Nigeria 4. RESULTS CONT. Exactly 51 students claimed to have heard about HB out of which 4 were positive and 20 of them had full knowledge of the virus, its mode of transmission and prevention. The HB positive students were found to have had an association with one risk factor or the other. Sharing of sharp objects and family history of HB were the most common risk factors among the student. However, the virus was not significantly associated with the socio-demographic and the risk factors studied. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a DNA virus with a very high transmissibility. About 2 billion people have been infected with HBV and 350 million have chronic lifelong infection. Nigeria is one of the countries in which HBV infection is highly endemic and about 12% of Nigerians are chronic carriers. Studies have shown the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among students to be high and close contact to be a risk factor. Most Secondary schools in the study area are crowded, with students sitting very closely in class, hence close personal contact is a characteristic feature observed among the students. HBV has been shown to be transmitted by frequent and prolonged close personal contact with an infected person. Key: + = Positive, - = Negative Table 2: Prevalence of HBsAg in relation to age group and gender amongst Secondary School Students in Zaria, Nigeria Variable Total Positive Percentage p value Age group   10 – 15 25 2 8.0 0.700 16 – 20 71 3 4.3 21 – 25 4 0.0 Gender Female 73 4.1 0.132 Male 27 7.4 5. DISCUSSION The prevalence of HB obtained is relatively low when compared to results of other studies. None of the HBsAg reactive students had developed anti-HBs, a marker that indicates either virus clearance or vaccination. This means that all the positive students were having recent infection and have not yet recovered from natural infection. Four of the students had HBeAg, indicating viral replication and high level of HBV. Since HBeAg is associated with high infectivity, there is an increase chance of spread of the infection to others by these students. Two of the positive female students were bench mates during sampling suggesting the possibility of transmission by close personal contact. Higher prevalence among younger and male students agrees with previous reports and may be due to more association with the risk factors. Even though half of the students have heard about HB, very few of them had knowledge of its transmission, prevention and control implying very low level of awareness of the HB. One of the five positive students claimed to have had blood transmission, this may probable be how the student contacted the virus, considering the fact that most hospitals do not properly screen for HBV before transfusion. Lack of association between HB and risks factors studied may be due to small sample size and small number of positive samples. 2. STUDY OBJECTIVE The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among some Secondary School students in Zaria, Nigeria in order to provide data for prevention and control of the infection Table 3: Prevalence of HBsAg in relation to knowledge amongst Secondary School Students in Zaria, Nigeria Variable Total Positive Percentage χ2 p value Knowledge of HB Yes 51 4 8.0 1.833 0.173 No 49 1 2.0   Source of knowledge Media 3 33.3 4.846 0.183 Relations 15 2 13.3 School 25 4.0 Medical personnel 8 0.0 Knowledge of transmission 20 10.0 1.455 0.228 80 3.8 3. METHODS A total of 100 blood samples were collected and screened for HBsAg using immunomonochromatic test strip (The BioApex one Step HBsAg test kit, Ontario, Canada). The positive samples were further analyzed for other Hepatitis B (HB) serological markers [hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), Hepatitis B envelope antibody (anti-HBe), Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)] to determine the stage of infection. All HBsAg positive samples were confirmed using ELISA (Beijing King Hawk, Pharm. Co., Ltd. SFDA, China). A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demography and potential risk factors. Pearson Chi‑square was calculated at 95% confidence interval and p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.   Table 4: Prevalence of HBsAg in relation to risk factors amongst Secondary School Students in Zaria, Nigeria Variable Total Positive Percentage Χ2 p- value Sharing of sharp objects Yes 44 3 7.0 0.701 0.704 No 56 2 3.6   Scarification 1 2.3 1.161 0.281 4 7.1 Blood transfusion 100 0.312 99 4.0 Family history 35 8.6 1.881 0.170 65 3.1 Sexual activity 7 0.0 0.293 0.5881 93 5 5.4 4. RESULTS Of the 100 samples analyzed, 5 (5%) were HBsAg positive. Four of the 5 positive students were at the acute stage of HB infection as they were positive for HBsAg, HBcAb, HBeAg and HBeAb and negative for HBsAb. One was at the early acute stage of the infection as he was positive for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBeAb but negative for HBsAb and HBcAb. Distribution of HBsAg by age group showed highest prevalence amongst students in age group 10-15 years (8.0%: 2/25). Male students had higher prevalence (7.4%: 2/27) compared to female students (4.1%: 3/73). 6. CONCLUSION 7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hepatitis B was detected with a low (5%) prevalence among Secondary School students who were at an early stage of infection in Zaria. Full knowledge of the virus was low necesitating the need to increase the level of awareness of the disease especially on its mode of transmission, prevention and control. We acknowledge all the personnel in the hospitals and patients enrolled in the study for their cooperation.   8. REFERENCES Shepard et al (2006). Epidemiol Rev; 28:112‑25. Mbaawuaga et al (2008). Afr. J. Biom. Res. 11(2008):155-159. Mbamara and Obiechina (2010). Nig. Med. J. 51(4):152-154. Nwokediuko (2010). Internet J. Gastroenterol, 10(1):10-11. Ahizechukwu et al (2011). Virol J. 8(1):8-12. Pennap et al (2011). Res. J. of Med. Sci. 5(2): 90-93. Ballah et al (2012). Intern. J. Med & Med Sci. 4(1):13-18. Aminu et al (2013). Ann. Afr. Med. 12(1): 55-56.