title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus infection has become a global public health problem. In Nigeria, several studies from different parts of the country have confirmed the endemicity of the infection. This study seeks examine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B viral infection among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano metropolis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study in which patients tested for hepatitis B virus using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a marker were reviewed over 3 years. A total of 6,395 patients comprising of 4,040 males and 2,355 females including adults and children were tested for HBsAg from January 2004 to December 2006. Over this period, 1,509 sera were tested in 2004, 2,322 in 2005 and 2,564 in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 6,395 patients, 703 (11.4%) comprising of 240 (10.2%) females and 490 (12.1%) males were positive for HBsAg. The highest prevalence was seen at the extremes of life in which 19.4% and 16.9% were seen among patients below 10 years and above 50 years respectively. The yearly trend of HBV surface antigenemia was 220 (14.6%) in 2004, 235 (10.1%) in 2005 and 275 (10.7%) in 2006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the prevalence of HBsAg among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano is high and highest prevalence is seen at the extremes of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology College of Health Sciences, Benue State University Makurdi. dmwokedi@gmail.com
authors.forename: E O P
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Nwokedi
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Odimayo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Emokpae
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Yahaya
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Okwori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens