Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in surgeons in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in surgeons in a major city in Nigeria. Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Setting: Three major hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. Subjects: One hundred and sixty seven surgeons(study group)and 193 administrative staff(controls). Interventions: Blood samples were taken from subjects and analysed for hepatitis B virus markers ( HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc) using the ELISA technique. Main outcome measures: Hepatitis B virus marker sero-positivity Results: The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the surgeons was found to be 25.7% as compared to 15% in the control group (p=0.01). The frequency of antibody to the surface antigen (antiHBs) was 22.2% among the surgeons and 4.1% in the control group (p< 0.001) and that of antibody to the core antigen (antiHBc) was 61.7% in the surgeons as compared to 53.4 % in the control (p=0.11). At least one HBV marker was found in 76.6% of the surgeons as compared to 57% in the control group (p=0.0009). Conclusion: Health care workers should be immunised against HBV. In Nigeria, HBV immunisation should be considered for inclusion in the EPI.