Evaluation of Hepatitis-B and Its Markers Among Some Attendees of Two Health Facilities In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-410
Author(s):  
M.A. Erasmus ◽  
G.N. Wokem

A cross-sectional investigation of hepatitis-B status among attendees of Modern Primary Health Centre, Eneka and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt was evaluated. Seven hundred (700) subjects of different ages of both sexes were included in the study after ethical approval was obtained from the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt. Consent forms were issued to get subjects’ consent before questionnaire administration to obtain their demographic data. The uninfected subjects were used as control. About 4mls of blood was taken from each subject by vein-puncture; 2mls each was dispensed into EDTA and plain bottles for analysis. The samples were used to assay for hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis–B virus (HBV) markers (HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb) using standard techniques. The overall prevalence of HBV was 5.1% in Port Harcourt. The males had higher prevalence of 7.9% HBV than the females 3.4% HBV, although there was no statistically significant difference (P ≥0.05). The HBV was highest among subjects of age group 24-29 years (8.29%) and 30-35 years (9.2%) accordingly. The HBV markers results show that while HBsAg occurred among all the subjects that were positive for HBV, HBeAb was completely absent.

Author(s):  
James A. Ndako ◽  
Stephen Ojo ◽  
Victor T. Dojumo ◽  
Victor O. Fajobi ◽  
Ilochi Ifeanyi ◽  
...  

Hepatitis B (HBV) infection is an important public health concern all over the globe. As a result of its asymptomatic nature, its prevalence among apparently healthy individuals becomes relevant for studies. Hence the prevalence survey of hepatitis B virus was conducted among apparently healthy young individuals. A total of two hundred samples were screened from volunteer subjects for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), using the one step immune-chromatographic test strip manufactured by Dia Spot® Diagnostics. Questionnaires were administered to obtain relevant information and demographic data. Overall result showed that 11 (5.5%) of the subjects tested were found to be positive. The highest prevalence was found among subjects aged 22-26 years with 7.8% prevalence compared to those aged 12-21 years with 4.4% prevalence (P=0.1012); (p˃0.05). Based on demographic factors, female workers tend to demonstrate high positivity of 12.5% compared to male with 10.0% prevalence, (P=0.4929); (p˃0.05). Subjects involved with risky behavioral pattern by the use of unsterilized objects recorded a high prevalence of 5.3%, (P=0.5748); (p˃0.05) among female subjects. Serum Alanine amino-tranferases result showed no significant difference among the positive subjects. The results showed some measure of prevalence among the study population. It therefore becomes pertinent that the community be enlightened on the possible risk of infection by the virus. Efforts should be made to ensure vaccination against this infectious agent is intensified.


Author(s):  
Sherly Purnamawaty ◽  
Irda Handayani ◽  
Asvin Nurulita ◽  
Uleng Bahrun

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the earliest and most important serological marker for the diagnosis of HBV infection. The availability of new methods with a high sensitivity to detect HBsAg results in the increase of false reactive results so that a confirmatory test is needed,but this will increase the total test cost. A reactive cut-off value for a confirmatory test is needed to make the use of this test more efficient. This study was a cross-sectional. All the specimens with HBsAg >0.17 Cut-Off Index (COI) were confirmed with HBsAg confirmatory test. HBsAg test used a sandwich ELFA method while HBsAg confirmatory test used an antibody neutralization method. Analysis of the ROC curve obtained HBsAg cut-off value that need confirmatory test. Total samples were 80 with 51 (63.8%) confirmed reactive and 29 (36.2%) non-reactive. There was a statistically significant difference between HBsAg that confirmed reactive (median 2.76 COI) and non-reactive (median 0.32 COI) (p<0.001). ROC curve showed an AUC of 0.805 which meant a good diagnostic performance for HBsAg test based on a confirmatory test. The specificity of 89.66% and sensitivity 64.71% were obtained from the cut-off 1.08 COI and considered the best cut-off. Some possible causes of false reactive results were Hepatitis B vaccine, G-CSF therapy and limitation of the HBsAg methods. HBsAg cut-off with ELFA method that need HBsAg confirmatory test was <1.08 COI. The researchers suggests further studies with different sampling methods so a better data distribution can be obtained.


Author(s):  
Owhorchukwu Amadi- Wali ◽  
Chinyere Amadi- Wali ◽  
Allwell Sunny Njigwum

Aims: The study investigated the presence of entities causing diarrhea (Shigella & Salmonella) from some selected seafood. Study Design:  The study adopted a completely randomized experimental Design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Microbiology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), between January 2020 and February 2020. Methodology: Simple random technique was employed to collect sufficient quantities of five different fresh raw seafoods (shrimp, periwinkle, crab, sardine fish and mudskipper) across fish harbors and fish markets (Nembe waterside, Abonema Wharf and 1 Fish Market) in Port Harcourt, and were evaluated for bacteriological quality. Sample collection was a cross-sectional type. The isolation and identification of isolates were done according to standard bacteriological analytical methods. The study employed Frequency counts, percentages and one- way ANOVA statistics, and the analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Although, one-way ANOVA statistics was used to test the hypothesis of the study at 0.05 level of significance, while Tukey’s test was used for ranking means. Results: The finding showed that 53 percent of the isolates (i.e. 8 out of 15 isolates) were characterized as Salmonella and Shigella. Also, the result shows that all the seafood evaluated contain unacceptable levels of Salmonella and Shigella contamination, which ranged from 1.79 x107 CFU/g to 2.96 x107CFU/g. The level of contamination found in the selected seafood is shown in descending order from the highest to the lowest: Sardine> Periwinkle> Shrimps> Mudskipper> Crab. More so, result from the hypothesis showed that there was a significant mean difference in the Salmonella and Shigella count amongst selected seafood (P < .001). Conclusion: The results of this study constitute an indicator of fecal contamination in selected seafood from fish markets in Port Harcourt. Amongst others, it was recommended that Government should enforce laws discouraging the dumping of untreated waste into water bodies.


Author(s):  
T. Neebee–Sordum ◽  
D. G. Tamuno-emine ◽  
D. Onwuli

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid hormone levels in among diabetics in Port- Harcourt  of Rivers State in Nigeria Study Design: This study is a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Chemical Pathology Department, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between December, 2019 and February, 2020. Methodology: A total of 224 subjects were recruited for the study, diabetic parents (132 subjects), non-diabetic parents (112 subjects. Five (5) ml of blood sample was collected and used to analyse for serum thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T­­3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) using Enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assay. Data were analyzed statistically with SPSS version 22.0 and values considered significant at p< 0.05. Results: The mean ± S.D of serum TSH were 1.28± 0.6u/ml (control) and 1.84±1.05 u/ml (subject), (p=0.023). T4 value were 2.49 ± 0.86u/ml (control) (p=0.024) and 3.90 ±1,62u/ml (subjects) and T3 values were 1.89±0.41u/ml (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The evaluation of thyroid hormones (TSH, T4 and T3) among diabetes with the age ranges of population studied shows that there was altered thyroid hormone in diabetes mellitus individuals.


Author(s):  
G. N. Wokem ◽  
A. M. Erasmus ◽  
V. C. Wokem

A cross sectional study was conducted among subjects from two health facilities in Port Harcourt to assess malaria status and its health determinants. Seven hundred subjects of different ages and both sexes were investigated after ethical approval was obtained from Rivers State Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Written consent of the subjects was obtained before questionnaire administration to obtain the demographic data. The uninfected subjects were used as control. Four (4) mls of blood was taken from each subject by vein-puncture into separate EDTA bottles for haematological profile tests and malaria parasite identification using standard haematological and parasitological techniques. The overall prevalence of malaria was 27%. The males had slightly higher prevalence (27.8%) than the females (26.5%), though the difference was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). The highest prevalence occurred among females (48.4%) of age group <1-10yrs and followed by males (40.7%) of same age group, and followed by males of 11-20 yrs with 36.4%. From risk groups related prevalence the School children (45%) were the most infected, followed by Blood donors (35.7%) and pregnant women (26.5%). Only the Packed Cell Volume was significantly affected adversely by malaria (P<0.0001), of all the haematological Parameters tested.


Author(s):  
M. Trajchevska ◽  
A. Lleshi ◽  
S. Gjoshev ◽  
A. Trajchevski

Background: The respect of the needs and wishes of the patients is in the focus of the human health system. The experience of the parents in terms of child’s health care may be used as an indicator of quality of the health care. Material and methods: The research is a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, simple random sample of 207 parents / guardians is covered, whose children in the period of three months, had been hospitalized in the hospital department JZUU Pediatric Surgery Clinic in Skopje.It was used a two parted questionnaire. The first part is a standardized questionnaire (Parent Experience of Pediatric Care - PECP), and the second part concerns the general socio-demographic data of the parent/guardian. Statistical evaluation was performed using appropriate statistical programs (Statistics for Windows 7,0 and SPSS 17.0). Results: In accordance with the age of the parents, the survey respondents were divided into two groups: a) age ≤ 33 years - 107 (51.69%) and b) age> 33 years - 100 (48.31%).Significant independent predictor of parental satisfaction from the receipt of their child to the clinic research confirms the age of the parent under / over 33 years due to 4.1% of the change in satisfaction (R2 = 0,041). Parents generally believe that their children's room of the clinic is "good", without significant difference between parental satisfaction from both age groups (Mann-Whitney U Test Z = -0,9613 p = 0,3364). Significant independent predictor of parental satisfaction from the room of their child improves the health status after treatment due to 6% of the change in satisfaction (R2 = 0,060). Parents generally believe that testing and treatment of their children in the clinic was "very good" and an independent significant predictor is to improve the health status after the treatment - 7,8% (R2 = 0,078). Conclusions: Regardless of the generally good parental satisfaction about health care for their children, it is necessary to continuously monitor the status of the clinic in order to consider the possible deficiencies and needs of intervention.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e041595
Author(s):  
Eunchan Mun ◽  
Woncheol Lee ◽  
Min-Woo Nam ◽  
Hyun-Il Kim ◽  
Hyeongcheol Kim ◽  
...  

ObjectivesAlthough the effects of long working hours on liver function remain unclear, in South Korea, there is a social perception that long working hours are associated with poor liver function. Thus, long working hours have recently become a major issue. This study aimed to determine the association between long working hours and liver function, as indicated by the alanine transaminase (ALT) levels.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingLarge university hospitals in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea.ParticipantsWorkers in formal employment who underwent a comprehensive health examination at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Total Healthcare Centre clinics in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea, between January 2011 and December 2018. Of the 386 488 participants, 212 421 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.Primary outcome measureALT elevation.ResultsThe participants were predominantly well-educated (86.1%), male (69.3%) and in their 30s (49.6%). In total, 13.4% of the participants presented ALT elevation (>40 IU/L). There was no significant association between working hours and ALT elevation in the general population and in the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative group. Conversely, in the HBsAg-positive group, working >60 hours per week compared with 35–40 hours per week was significantly associated with ALT elevation. The association was more pronounced in those with ALT levels >80 IU/L (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.01) than in those with ALT levels >40 IU/L (OR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.75). The p values for trend were <0.05.ConclusionsLong working hours were associated with ALT elevation only in hepatitis B virus carriers and not in the general population. Provided that there is adherence to the legal working hours, there is no need to further restrict working hours for liver health, irrespective of HBsAg status.


2018 ◽  
Vol 220 (7) ◽  
pp. 1118-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ju Su ◽  
Shu-Fong Chen ◽  
Chin-Hui Yang ◽  
Pei-Hung Chuang ◽  
Hsiu-Fang Chang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The hepatitis B virus (HBV) status of pregnant women affects HBV vaccine failure in their offspring. This study is aimed to investigate the impact of the universal infant HBV vaccination program on the long-term hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rate in pregnant women. Methods Using the National Immunization Information System, we examined a 32-year period of cross-sectional data on a maternal HBsAg and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) screening program launched in July 1984. An age-period-cohort model analysis of 940 180 pregnant women screened for July 1996–June 1997 and the years 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 was applied. Results The annual HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rates decreased from 13.4% and 6.4%, respectively, for the period 1984–1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016 (P for both trends < .0001). Pregnant women with birth years after July 1986 (the HBV vaccination cohort) had the lowest relative risk (0.27 [95% confidence interval, .26–.28]) of HBsAg positivity compared with birth years before June 1984. Conclusions The birth cohort effect in relation to the universal infant HBV immunization program has effectively reduced the HBV carrier rate in pregnant women and the burden of perinatal HBV infection on the next generation.


Author(s):  
Hairul Anwar ◽  
Mutmainnah Mutmainnah ◽  
Ibrahim Abdul Samad

Chronic hepatitis B is an infectious liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus that persist for more than 6 months. Fibrosis is a result of fibrogenesis which is the formation of connective tissue (scarring) caused by liver tissue damage. Liver damage will affect the production of thrombopoetin causing disturbances in the balance between destruction and production of platelet resulting in decreased platelet counts. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study by taking the data from medical records of chronic hepatitis B patients who were tested for complete blood count and fibroScan at the Dr.Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital Makassar from January 2014 to July 2016. The result showed a total of 323 chronic B hepatitis patients, 99 with severe fibrosis, 84 with moderate fibrosis and 140 with mild fibrosis. The Spearman correlation test showed a significant correlation between the platelet count and the degree of fibrosis (p <0.001) and showed a positive correlation between both of them with a very strong correlation (r = 0.802). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference between platelet count and the degree of fibrosis (p<0.001). The conclusion is that a decreased platelet count is a sign of an increase in the degree of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. It is suggested to perform another study with larger samples based on the degree of fibrosis. 


Author(s):  
Patrick N. Nwinyokpugi ◽  
Amachree Ibim Taribo

In view of the numerous challenges associated with contemporary meeting practice in an ever growing technologically driven society, the general purpose of the study was to determine how virtual meetings influence successful decision making process in the Nigeria banking sector. This descriptive research adopted a cross-sectional survey approach in investigating a homogenously characterised section of the sector in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Eighteen (18) banks were chosen based on the convenience in accessibility and a census of all the senior managers including Information Technology based personnel were drawn for study. Thus, a census population derived was 216. A 5-point Likert Scale structured close-ended questionnaire was designed and adopted for data collection from the targeted respondents. This instrument was further validated for face/content validity and subjected to Croubach’s Alpha reliability test. Data collected were tested and analysed using the Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient statistic and presented for clarity using the SPSS. Findings revealed the moderating effect of technology for virtual meetings and decision making success in the industry studied. Also, significant relationships exist between the different dimensions of virtual meetings and measures of decision making success in the banking sector and therefore recommendations were made in support of their adoption.


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