Prevalence and Awareness of Hepatitis B Infection Among Blood Donors in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, Nigeria

Abstract

Blood screening exercise was performed with one hundred (100) blood samples donated by blood donors at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching (ATBUTH) Hospital, Bauchi to investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection among them as well as their awareness about the risk factors of the disease. Results from this study showed that 18% of the blood donors examined were reactive to Hepatitis B surface antigen; while 17% of the blood donors have never heard of Hepatitis B and 88% have never ever been vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine.  Having an infected family member and being a trader by occupation were found to be the major risk factors of having the disease. In conclusion, the general public should be properly educated on Hepatitis B infection and all susceptible individuals especially those with infected family members and traders should be vaccinated.