Objective: To determine the sero-prevalence and epidemiology of antibody to hepatitis Cvirus (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B surface antigen in accident and emergency patients.Design: A descriptive study was performed on 150 accident and emergency patients. Serawas screened for anti-HCV and HbsAg, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Personalinformation and risk factors involved were obtained using a questionnaire.Setting: Haematology laboratory of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Subjects: One hundred and fifty adults consisting of 122 males and 28 females who wereabove the age of 21 years. Patients were randomly selected from all adults including dentalpatients attending the emergency department for both surgical, dental and medicalemergencies. The age range was between 21 - 58 years. In order to ascertain the epidemiologyof both viruses a questionnaire was used detailing the possible risk factors for transmission.These included history of previous blood transfusion; history of life time occurrence ofmultiple sexually transmitted diseases; history of heterosexual exposure to partners at risk(for example prostitutes); history involving the use of unsterilised blades; presence ofscarification marks and tattooing; low socio-economic status (low annual income orunemployed): history of intravenous drug use and heterosexual activity. Anti-HCV andHBsAg were both assayed using different assay kits, based on the enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) tests from different manufacturers.Results: The sero-prevalence of anti-HCV was 14% and 29.3% for HBsAg. Anti-HCVpositivity was significantly associated with a past history of blood transfusion and heterosexualexposure to partners at risk. The study also revealed a significant association between HBsAgpositivity and all the risk factors.Conclusion: The high prevalence rate for anti-HCV and HbsAg in accident and emergencypatients increases the likelihood of further spread from patients to health care providersespecially if adequate precautions are not observed
