A spot check on the prevalence of viral hepatitis B on the plateau

Hepatitis B is a disease which is present globally and over 2 billion people have been infected with hepatitis b according to the World Health Organization. In Nigeria hepatitis B, chronic infection: which is defined as persistence of infection in a human being greater than six months is present in an endemic proportion. In fact Nigeria is described as an area of hyper-endemicity, having a National Prevalence that is greater than 8% of the population.Methodology: The study was carried as part of awareness campaign in a university community. Samples were taken from the participants via finger prick. Two drops of blood were placed on the strip and a buffer was added and read after five minutes.Results: There were a total of 684 participants. Out of which 404 (59.06%) were males and 280(40.94%) were females. The mean age for the study participants was 26.169±.9. Those who were positive for hepatitis b surface antigen were 75(10.96%) while those who are negative were 609(89.04%).Those with history of previous immunization for hepatitis B were 152(22.22%).Conclusion: There is still a very high prevalence of hepatitis with very low uptake of vaccination, these calls for an urgent public health intervention.Keywords: Prevalence, Hepatitis B, Spot check, viru

The practice of hepatocellular cancer surveillance in Nigeria

Background: Hepatocellular cancer is a disease of global and public health importance due to the widespread distribution of risk factors and associated high case fatality. Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) in Sub-Saharan Africa is commonly seen among the younger age groups (<45 years) who present mostly in the terminal stage, when the disease is not amenable to any curative therapy. Hepatocellular Carcinoma surveillance employs the use of simple, cheap and readily available investigations, to detect early curable cancer in individuals with risk factors for HCC.Objectives:The aim of this study is to assess the practice of hepatocellular cancer screening among physicians.Methodolgy:This is a nationwide online survey carried out among physicians who care for patients with HCC. A questionnaire was sent out via a web link to all consenting doctors in Nigeria. The responses were collated in a cloud-based application and data was analysed using Epi-info version 20.Results:Atotal of 218 respondents, 142 were males (65.1 %) with a mean age of 37.6 ± 5.7 years. The modal age group was 31-40 years 153 (69.5%). The main factors considered as a hindrance to surveillance were; the cost of the tests (57.7%), failure of return of patients (50.5%) and not being aware of a surveillance program (45.2 %). The majority of the respondents were Gastroenterologists and Family Physicians. 54% of the gastroenterologists and 64% of the family physicians have never offered HCC surveillance to their patients.Conclusion:This survey highlights a knowledge gap in HCC surveillance among physicians. There is a need to make HCCsurveillance a daily routine among patients at risk by all physicians. Keywords: Surveillance, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HBV, HCV, Cancer screening