Akabuike Ogechukwu MaryAnn, Aworh Mabel Kamweli, Uzoebo Nkiruka Lynda, Erwat John, Agukwe Onyinyechi, Ngong Kingsley, Dangana Amos, Enwerem Kenneth, Abdullahi Idris Nasir
Remedium Plus Foundation, Efab Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, Nigeria.
Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Dec 18;24(1):3475. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-21017-3.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health threat, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Nigeria has a prevalence exceeding 8%. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, inadequate coverage and lack of awareness have resulted in high rates of chronic infections and HBV-attributable liver disease. The study aimed to raise awareness of HBV, enroll participants for HBV screening, determine HBV prevalence across various communities, vaccinate negative cases and link positive cases to care.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 districts of Abuja from April 2022 to March 2023. Participants aged 18 and over were screened for hepatitis B, and those testing negative were offered on-site vaccination. Blood samples were collected and tested using HBV immunochromatographic tests and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for HBV DNA quantification. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using R software, with descriptive statistics calculated for continuous and categorical variables. Associations between socio-demographic factors and hepatitis B/vaccine status were assessed using the Chi-square test of independence.
Out of 3,245 individuals screened, 141 (4.3%) tested positive for HBV. The highest prevalence was observed in the 20-39 age group (5.9%), with males showing a higher infection rate (5.4%) compared to females (3.7%) [p = 0.02]. The mean age of HBV-positive individuals was significantly lower (30.8 years) than those negative for HBV (36.2 years) [p = < 0.001]. Among 2,506 participants who consented to vaccination, 2,488 received the first dose (99.3%), 1,834 the second dose (73.2%), and 1,100 the third dose (43.9%). Vaccination uptake declined with each subsequent dose, but more older participants completed the third dose. A similar pattern of HBV prevalence was observed across gender and age groups.
The study reveals a 4.3% prevalence of hepatitis B, with the highest infection rate among individuals aged 20-39 years, and males showing a higher prevalence than females. Although vaccination uptake was high for the first dose, adherence declined for subsequent doses. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly among younger adults and males, to improve awareness and vaccination completion. Enhanced community engagement and sustained vaccination efforts are crucial for reducing HBV transmission and achieving better coverage.
乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）是全球主要的健康威胁，特别是在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，尼日利亚的HBV患病率超过8%。尽管有有效的疫苗，但疫苗接种覆盖率不足和意识缺乏导致慢性感染率和HBV相关肝病的发病率居高不下。该研究旨在提高对HBV的认识，招募参与者进行HBV筛查，确定不同社区的HBV患病率，为阴性病例接种疫苗，并将阳性病例与治疗联系起来。
2022年4月至2023年3月在阿布贾的16个区进行了一项横断面研究。对18岁及以上的参与者进行乙型肝炎筛查，检测为阴性的参与者在现场接种疫苗。采集血样并使用HBV免疫层析试验和实时聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）进行HBV DNA定量检测。通过访谈收集数据，并使用R软件进行分析，对连续变量和分类变量计算描述性统计量。使用独立性卡方检验评估社会人口学因素与乙型肝炎/疫苗接种状况之间的关联。
在3245名接受筛查的个体中，141人（4.3%）HBV检测呈阳性。20-39岁年龄组的患病率最高（5.9%），男性的感染率（5.4%）高于女性（3.7%）[p = 0.02]。HBV阳性个体的平均年龄（30.8岁）显著低于HBV阴性个体（36.2岁）[p = < 0.001]。在2506名同意接种疫苗的参与者中，2488人接种了第一剂（99.3%），1834人接种了第二剂（73.2%），1100人接种了第三剂（43.9%）。后续各剂次的疫苗接种率均下降，但年龄较大的参与者完成第三剂接种的比例更高。不同性别和年龄组的HBV患病率呈现相似模式。
该研究显示乙型肝炎患病率为4.3%，20-39岁个体的感染率最高，男性患病率高于女性。虽然第一剂疫苗接种率较高，但后续剂次的接种依从性下降。这些发现凸显了有针对性的公共卫生干预措施的必要性，特别是针对年轻成年人和男性，以提高认识和完成疫苗接种。加强社区参与和持续的疫苗接种工作对于减少HBV传播和实现更高的覆盖率至关重要。
