Assessment of Prevalence of Hepatitis B Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Secondary School Students in a Low Resource Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria
Chinedu Nweke Idakari, Ikechukwu Francis Agwu, Patrick Chinazam Nwosu, Uche-Omovoh Ifeoma Cecilia, Ogochukwu Chioma, Chidiebere Brown Ene, Winifred Chinwendu Akpa, Uchenna Samuel Okparaoka, Chinedum Christabel Amagwu, Christian Obasi Akpa, Emelobe Godwin Macueley, Ogechukwu Rejoice Idakari, Ezekwesili MaryJane Ngozi
South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology · pp. 43–53 · Published 8 Nov 2025
10.9734/sajrm/2025/v19i10468Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global public health challenge, with a particularly high burden in Africa, especially Nigeria. Secondary school adolescents constitute a high-risk group for HBV infection, primarily because they often lack adequate vaccination coverage and comprehensive knowledge of the infection’s modes of transmission. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B infection and associated risk factors among secondary school students in Community Secondary School Ndufu Echara Ikwo of Ebonyi State Nigeria. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among secondary school students in Ndufu Echara Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was given to the students. Blood sample was collected from the consenting students and it was used to determine the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen. Result: Three hundred secondary school students were enrolled into the study. There were more females (58%) than male students (42%). The mean age of the students was 16.5 years. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection was 5% and sharing of contaminated sharp objects was found to be the major risk factor with P ˂ 0.0001. There was poor knowledge of hepatitis B infection among the students and only 28.9% were vaccinated against the infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatitis B infection is moderately elevated among Community Secondary School Ndufu Echara Ikwo students. The use of contaminated sharp objects was the major risk factor to hepatitis B infection transmission and students have poor knowledge of hepatitis B infection.
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