TY - JOUR UR - https://doi.org/10.25259/CJHS_7_2019 DO - 10.25259/CJHS_7_2019 TI - Distribution of hepatitis B virus-positive individuals in Zaria, Nigeria, according to risk-associated practices AU - Ahmad,Abdurrahman El-Fulaty AU - Bakari,Adamu Girei AU - Musa,Bolanle O. P. AU - Mustapha,Shettima K. AU - Abdullahi,Idris Nasir AU - Tahir,Mohammed Ibrahim AU - Jamoh,Bello Yusuf AU - Olatunji,Abdulqadri O. AU - Maishanu,Sumayya Hamza AU - Hali,Bello AU - Hawkins,Claudia A. AU - Sagay,Atiene S. AU - Olayinka,Adebola T. AB - Objective: An estimated 75% of Nigerians are at risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure. In an attempt to reduce the menace, the assessment of risk factors associated with HBV infection and general perception of infected individuals is a step in that direction. This study, therefore, identified exposure to risk factors and general perceptions associated with HBV infection in infected individuals in Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four milliliters of blood were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid container from each of 165 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive participants recruited purposively from the gastroenterology clinic of ABUTH Zaria from May to August 2017. Plasma was separated and used to screen for HBsAg with Fastep® rapid strip. Epi Info® questionnaire database was used to collate data on sociodemographics, risk factors, and perception indices. GraphPad Prism 6 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The median interquartile range age of the participants was 31.0 (25.5–39.0) years with 107 (64.8%) male participants. Sharing hair clippers, commercial pedicure, and body piercing among others were some of the risks that the study participants reported to be exposed to. One-quarter of health workers involved in the study had needlestick injury. Less than half of the study participants (47.7%) knew of hepatitis B before testing HBsAg seropositive. Knowledge of the HBV vaccine before testing and adherence was generally poor (38.6% and 44.6%, respectively). There was a significant linear relationship between the level of education and knowledge of hepatitis B. Conclusion: Considering the myriads of already established risks of HBV seen in Zaria, massive enlightenment campaigns need to be embarked on continuously through all available media, including social media. VL - 3 T2 - Calabar Journal of Health Sciences JO - Calabar Journal of Health Sciences J2 - Calabar Journal of Health Sciences SN - 2636-4786 SN - 2756-4185 ER -