Opeyemi Olufeyisola Adesina* and Alice Dossi Adunkpe

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Babcock University, Ilishan. Ogun State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Opeyemi Olufeyisola Adesina, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Babcock University, Ilishan. Ogun State, Nigeria.

Received: August 27, 2024; Published: September 05, 2024

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly among blood donors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) in blood donors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted from October to November 2020, involving 113 prospective blood donors aged 18-65. The study utilized questionnaires to obtain informed consent and socio-demographic information. Blood samples were collected and tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using both rapid diagnostic tests and ELISA. Anti-HBc screening was conducted on HBsAg-negative samples to detect occult hepatitis B infection.

Results: Out of 88 respondents, 2.3% tested positive for HBsAg using both rapid test and ELISA, while 3.6% of HBsAg-negative samples tested positive for Anti-HBc, indicating occult hepatitis B infection. A total of 93.2% of participants were male, and the majority (92.0%) were Yoruba. Socio-demographic and health-related practices such as sharing sharp objects (28.4%) and multiple sexual partners (10.2%) were analyzed but showed no significant associations with HBV infection (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The study identified a low prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors but highlighted the presence of occult hepatitis B infection. Regular screening for Anti-HBc in HBsAg-negative blood donors is essential to prevent transfusion-transmissible infections. Enhancing public awareness and preventive measures is crucial in mitigating HBV transmission in Nigeria.

 Keywords: Hepatitis B; Blood Donors; Occult Hepatitis B; Pre-donation Screening

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Citation

Citation: Opeyemi Olufeyisola Adesina and Alice Dossi Adunkpe. “Pre-Donation Screening of Blood Donors for Hepatitis B in Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 8.10 (2024): 68-78.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Opeyemi Olufeyisola Adesina and Alice Dossi Adunkpe. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.