Abstract:

A high average prevalence rate of 11-13.7% for viral hepatitis B exists in Nigeria among the general population (National AIDS/STIs Control Program (2016). This study was the first of its type however, to examine the prevalence of hepatitis B among a specific target group, the senior secondary school students in Jos, Plateau state in Nigeria. It was conducted in six public day secondary schools located in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau state, findings of which would help determine interventions for the prevention and control of hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection among this important age group. The study was primarily carried out to determine the effect of peer education, an intervention, on knowledge and belief levels of hepatitis B in Jos but in the process of achieving this, the prevalence of hepatitis B was also identified.

A quasi-experimental study was carried out on six hundred students selected by a multistage sampling technique. Testing for hepatitis B was offered post intervention to only three hundred students, who were in the intervention group of three schools in the study. A pre-tested formal self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) was used to collect data pre and twelve weeks post intervention. Chi- square and students t-test was done to compare intervention and control groups on outcome variables. Results showed the age distribution of the respondents was 10-24 years with majority of respondents (86.7%) in the age group 15-19 years. One hundred and ten (110) students agreed to the test and 10 students were found positive for hepatitis B.

Keywords: Peer education, positivity rate, prevalence, hepatitis B, secondary school student.

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