title: Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and C among mentally ill patients attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mentally ill persons are vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections including hepatitis B and C because of their high level risky behaviors. This study is aimed at establishing the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and C among the mentally ill individuals (MII) attending psychiatric clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Nigeria since it has not been documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 350 MII were recruited. HBsAg testing was by immunoassay test strip (Grand Medical Diagnostic R USA) while hepatitis C was tested by commercially prepared kits from ACON, R USA. Healthy adults who presented as donors in the blood bank of the hospital were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 700 participants including 350 MII and 350 blood donors (BDs) were recruited for the study. The mean ages of MII and control participants were 36.5 ± 12.3 and 31.4 ± 8.3, respectively.The sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and C among patients with mental illness was 10.0 and 12.6%, respectively, as compared to 10.9% and 1.1% of the blood donors. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of HCV among mentally ill when compared with the blood donors (P = 0.001, χ2 = 33.97; OR (CI) =12.44 (5.33-29.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mentally ill patients attending UITH were significantly infected with hepatitis C virus. There is need for interventional measures to reduce the prevalence of hepatitis C among the mentally ill population such as health education and early screening of mentally ill in our setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Idayat A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Durotoye
authors.forename: Baba A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: Abayomi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fadeyi
authors.forename: Abdullah D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Yussuf
authors.forename: Alakija K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Olasunkanmi A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Shittu
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ajiboye
authors.forename: Hannah O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Olawumi
authors.forename: Olushola A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adegunloye
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nwabuisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies