Hepatitis B Vaccination Outcomes and Broad Spectrum of Hepatitis B Infections in Nigeria: An Evidence-Based Picture

¹Department of Haematology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Nigeria.

²School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.

^*Corresponding Author

Kolawole A. Fasakin

Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion,

Federal Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 201, Ido Ekiti.

Email: fasakin_kolawole@yahoo.co.uk

GSM: +2347031890651.

Abstract

Background: Current evidence-based data on Hepatitis B vaccination coverage and outcomes in Nigeria are limited and these raise serious concern among stakeholders in clinical settings with respect to prevention of hepatitis B and safety of transfusion recipients. This study evaluated hepatitis B vaccination coverage and outcomes among apparently healthy blood donors in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods: Hepatitis B viral markers, including hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), were serologically screened in four hundred and seventy prospective blood donors using NOVA 5-in-1 HBV rapid one-step multi-test kit and the results were interpreted using descriptive statistics of SPSS version 21. Results: Out of the four hundred and seventy (470) blood donors screened, 85 (18.1%) and 385 (81.9%) were vaccinated research participants and unvaccinated research participants (VRP and UVRP) respectively. Male: Female ratio and mean age (±SD) of VRP were 1:1 and 26.5 ± 6.8 while those of the UVRP were 1.6:1 and 26.9 ± 7.7. Evidence of successful vaccination was observed in 2.55% and 4.68% of VRP and UVRP respectively. Broad spectrum HBV infection totaling 11.05% based HBV markers seroprevalence was observed among the UVRP compared to the VRP with 0.85% seroprevalence. Conclusion: Low hepatitis B vaccine coverage among blood donors poses serious threats to public health including recipients of blood transfusion and hepatitis B vaccination programme should be re-strategized to cover the grass roots. Low HBV infection among the vaccinated research participants compared to the unvaccinated group showed long-term protection despite HBsAb loss. Post-vaccination testing is recommended for specific categories of individuals.

Keywords: Hepatitis B Virus, Vaccination, infections, Broad spectrum, Blood donors, Evidence-based picture

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