Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers in surgeons in Lagos, Nigeria

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in surgeons in a major city in Nigeria. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: Three major hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: One hundred and sixty seven surgeons (study group) and 193 administrative staff (controls). INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples were taken from subjects and analysed for hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc) using the ELISA technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hepatitis B virus marker sero-positivity. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the surgeons was found to be 25.7% as compared to 15% in the control group (p=0.01). The frequency of antibody to the surface antigen (antiHBs) was 22.2% among the surgeons and 4.1% in the control group (p<0.001) and that of antibody to the core antigen (antiHBc) was 61.7% in the surgeons as compared to 53.4% in the control (p=0.11). At least one HBV marker was found in 76.6% of the surgeons as compared to 57% in the control group (p=0.0009). CONCLUSION: Health care workers should be immunised against HBV. In Nigeria, HBV immunisation should be considered for inclusion in the EPI.