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Abstract
Psychiatric patients are considered at increased risk for blood-borne viral infections such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV), due to behavioral, social, and health-system factors. This study's aim was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infection among inpatients at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City. A cross-sectional assessment was used for this study and One hundred and one (101) in-patients were recruited using simple random sampling technique. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured forms. Blood samples were obtained from each patients and serum samples were obtained and tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies using rapid immunochromatographic assays. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations between infection status and demographic/clinical variables. Of the 101 participants used in the study, 70.3% were male and the majority (40.6%) was aged 21–30 years. Schizophrenia (38.6%) and mental and behavioral disorders (48.5%) were the leading diagnoses observed in the study. The prevalence of HBV was 2.97% (3/101), while no HCV infection was detected. No significant association was found between psychiatric diagnosis and HBV status. However, ethnicity and marital status were significantly associated with HBV positivity. Age, sex, occupation, and religion were not significantly associated with infection. Psychiatric diagnosis was not associated with HBV, but ethnicity and marital status showed significant associations, suggesting household and community transmission influences. Thus, this study emphasizes the importance of routine HBV/HCV screening of psychiatric in-patients. HBV vaccination for non-immune patients, staff and household contacts, and integration of hepatitis services into psychiatric care are also strongly recommended.
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