Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C virus antibodies among pre-surgery screened patients in Khartoum, Central Sudan

摘要

The prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infection varies between different regions of Sudan according to several published reports. The present study is a descriptive hospital-based study aimed to estimate prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies among 3172 patients undergoing surgery at Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum from April 2008 to April 2011. All patients were screened by rapid chromatography immunoassay for qualitative detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies. The mean age of the studied subjects was 44 years; 61.1% of them were males and 38.9% were females. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 156 patients (4.91%), while anti-Hepatitis C virus antibodies were detected in 58 patients (1.82%). The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen is slightly higher in males (5.46%), than females (4.04%); however, it is statistically insignificant (P= 0.08). In conclusion, the present study reported a prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen which is lower than what has previously been reported in Sudan.