Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorNanteza, Jane Frances
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-05T06:35:38Z
dc.date.available2013-07-05T06:35:38Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10570/1624
dc.descriptionA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health Degree of Makerere University.en_US
dc.description.abstractIntroduction/background: Hepatitis B (HBV) is a major health problem Worldwide. About: 2 billion people, are exposed to hepatitis B allover the world, with an estimated 350 million people being carriers. The prevalence of hepatitis B varies in different regions, with a carrier rate of 8-20% in areas of high endemicity and less than 1% in low endemic areas. Areas with a high prevalence of Hepatitis B include Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific with infection occurring mainly in childhood. In Africa, most of the HBV infection occurs by the horizontal route possibly as a result of percutaneous infection through saliva. traces of blood, unsterilized needles and tribal scarification. Both Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and HIV infections have high prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa, with HBV being a common co-infection with HIV. Vaccination is the mainstay of prevention of Hepatitis B infection. According to the Uganda National sero survey, the HBV prevalence was found to be 10% among people aged 15-59 years. However there are no published studies on the prevalence and factors associated with HBV in children in Uganda. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B among children admitted on paediatric wards in Mulago Hospital. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Study setting: The study was carried out in the Acute Care Unit (ACU) and the paediatric wards of Mulago Hospital. Mulago Hospital is the National Referral Hospital in Uganda and a teaching Hospital for Makerere University Medical School. Methods: Children aged between 6 months to 12 years whose caretakers gave informed consent were recruited by consecutive enrollment till the sample size of 400 was obtained. Socio-demographic characteristics, immunization and past history were obtained. Physical examination and investigations such as HBsAg, AntiHBc. AntiHBs, HIV and liver function tests (LFTS) were carried out. HBV infection was defined by the presence of a positive blood test for HBsAg or AntiHBc. Statistical analysis: Associations between categorical variables and HBV infection were tested using the Chi-square lest and Fisher's exact test. with corresponding odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression was done to determine factors that were independently associated with hepatitis B infection. P values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Four hundred children were recruited from January to March 2007. Of these, 5 did not have results for HBsAg, hence 395 were analysed. The prevalence of HBV infection was 12.9% (51/395). However, the prevalence of current HBV infection (HBsAg positive) was 1% and the prevalence of past HBV infection (antiHBc positive) was 11.9%. On bivariate analysis HBV infection was found to be associated with previous blood transfusion. OR 3.32 [95% CI (1.77-6.24)], more than 4 haircuts in the past year. OR 2.47)[95% CI (1.36-4.50], past history of yellow eyes OR 2.14 [95% CI (1.14-4.02)] and being aged 60 months or more OR 1.89[95% CI (1.01-3.54)]. On multivariate analysis HBV infection was only associated with previous blood transfusion OR 4.17[95% CI (2.73-7.65)] (p=0.000) and more than 4 haircuts in the past one year OR 2.67 [95% CI (1.44-4.97)] (p=0.002). No significant association was found between hepatitis B infection and HIV status or gender. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV infection was 12.9%. Blood transfusion and more than 4 haircuts in the past one year were the factors associated with HBV infection. Recommendations: (I.) Although the prevalence or HBV was found to be low in the current study, there is need to sensitize the community about immunisation as a number or children are still susceptible to infection. (2.) A larger community based/case control study is required to further evaluate the factors associated with HBV infection.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectHepatitis B prevalenceen_US
dc.subjectHIVen_US
dc.subjectAcute Care Uniten_US
dc.subjectPhysical examinationen_US
dc.subjectBlood transfusionen_US
dc.subjectChildrenen_US
dc.titlePrevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B among children admitted in Mulago Hospitalen_US
dc.typeThesis, mastersen_US


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record