PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN LAFIA METROPOLIS, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B (HB), caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria. Globally, the HBV infects approximately 296 million people, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality, with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer ranking as the 11th and 24th leading causes of death, respectively. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and the associated risk factors within the Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2023, utilizing a validated questionnaire to assess 461 randomly selected participants from four communities (Azuba, Bukan Sidi, Danka Sarki, and Doka), representing diverse sociodemographic profiles and varying degrees of exposure to risk factors associated with HBV infection. Data were analyzed using chi-square (χ2) tests with IBM SPSS statistical software version 28.0 at a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The findings showed that the overall prevalence of HBV infection was 7.8%. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of HBV infection and monthly income (p < 0.01). However, no associations were found with age, gender, educational level, marital status, occupation, or religion. Regarding risk factors, a significant association was found between HBV infection and awareness of one's HBV status (p < 0.03).

CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions and policies aimed at reducing HBV transmission among high-risk sociodemographic groups in Lafia Metropolis. This approach could potentially reduce the burden of HBV and improve health outcomes in affected communities.