Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among children attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary health centre in Southwest Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health disease. One-third of the world´s population is reportedly infected with the virus. Infections in children are mostly perinatal and therefore acquired early in life, with a propensity to evolve into chronic diseases and their attendant life-threatening complications. Early diagnosis can, however, improve outcomes in this group of children. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV among children attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria. METHODS: we recruited a total of one hundred and ninety-eight children aged 6 months to 18 years from the children´s outpatient clinic of a tertiary health centre, using the systematic sampling technique. HBsAg was tested using the HBsAg test kit (PRO-med®, China), and the anti-HBs antibody was tested using the ELISA method. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: of the 198 children that were screened, 2 (1.0%) were positive. Of these, one (50.0%) had a Hepatitis B positive mother and was HBeAg positive. Two-thirds of the children had received the hepatitis B vaccine, as evidenced by caregivers´ recall, or sighting of the immunization record. There was no statistically significant relationship between the hepatitis B status of the children and the sociodemographic parameters. CONCLUSION: the study supports the fact that paediatric HBV infections are transmitted from mother to child. Though the prevalence of HBsAg in the study population was lower than the national average for the country, routine immunization program should be strengthened for further control of HBV. Age and gender were not significantly associated with HBV infection in this study.