title: Hepatitis B infection among Nigerian children admitted to a children's emergency room.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nigeria commenced her hepatitis B immunization programme in 2004 but there have been few evaluations of the programme in different parts of the country given the fact that prevalence in different regions of the country varies. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg and the hepatitis B immunization status among children admitted to the children's emergency room (CHER) in Benin Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 150 consecutively recruited children aged 2 months to 15 years admitted to the CHER of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. HBsAg was assayed for in blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBsAg seroprevalence was 13.9%. Majority (83%) of the children were age appropriately immunized for hepatitis B. Mean age at receipt of the birth dose of hepatitis B (28.0 ± 20.4 days) was significantly delayed (p<0.0001). Mean age at completion of the schedule(110 ± 18.6 days) was significantly delayed compared to the recommended age of 98 days p<0.0002). Age, sex and socioeconomic status were not significantly associated with being seropositive(p>0,05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBsAg seroprevalence was high despite high immunization coverage. Lack of timeliness in the receipt of the birth dose and in completion of the schedule may have contributed to the seeming lack of effectiveness of the immunization programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ayebo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sadoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ofili
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Emergency Room; Hepatitis B; Nigerian children