Magnitude of Hepatitis B virus and comorbidity of intestinal parasite and Helicobacter pylori infection in School Children in Ziway, Central Ethiopia
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Date
2020-06
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is globally recognized as a major risk factor for
the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in hyper endemic areas. Though
some evidences shows that the association of HBV with other infections like H pylori and
intestinal parasite is described in some places such information is lacking in Ethiopia.
Objective: To determine magnitude of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen positivity rate and it’s
comorbidity with intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori infections among School Children
in Ziway, central Ethiopia
Methods: Both retrospective and prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from
October 2018 to January 2019 on samples collected from Ziway children aged 2-14 years.
Socio-demographic and data related to intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori infection
were collected from a data base which has been establi shed from a previous project. HBV
surface antigen tests were performed on 348 sera using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent
Assay (ELISA).Some socio demographic data, H.pylori status and intestinal parasites
burden were taken from previous data base . Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Descriptive statistics was employed to determine proportions. Chi square test was employed
to see any relation between HBV and demographic variables. Result was considered
statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Results: Out of 348 children, 179 (51.4%) were females. Most were in the age group between 59
years
and
accounting
49.6%
of
the
total
school
children.
About
31.9
%
(111/348)
mothers
had
non-formal
education and 152 mothers (44.0 %) were housewives. The overall magnitude of
HBsAg among school children was 3.74 % (13/348). The magnitude was higher in children aged
10-14 years (5.5%) and in males (4.2 % vs 3.4% in females), though not statistically significant.
Among 324 serum samples analyzed, 235(72.5%) were positive for H. pylori antibody, 25% had
protozoa and 9 % had helminthes. Neither H pylori antibody nor intestinal parasites were
detected in the 13 HBsAg sero positive school children.
Conclusion: Though we used a single marker for HBV infection, it calls for further studies to
assess the real burden of HBV infection in the study sites. Health education should be given for
the school communities and families of students to increase awareness and take preventive
measures towards HBV infection.
Description
Keywords
HBsAg, School children, H. pylori, Intestinal parasites