Demographic characteristics
One hundred and sixty-three (163) participants were enrolled in the study and the response rate was 100%.
Majority, 97(59.5%) of the respondents were in the age bracket of 20–39 years while the minority, 6(3.7%) were in the age bracket 60–75 years. Most, 84(51.5%) of them were females whereas the least 79(48.5%) were males.
Majority of the respondents, 102(62.6%) were married, 85(52.1%) had primary level of education, 121(74.2%) were not employed, 111(68.1%) were Christians, 98(60.1%) had household monthly income of 50,000-200,000/= and 130(79.8%) lived with their spouse and children.
Most, 125(76.7%) of the respondents did not drink alcohol, whereas the least 38(23.3%) drunk alcohol. Majority, 151(92.6%) did not smoke while the minority, 12(7.4%) smoked, as shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Demographic characteristics of study participants
Variable
|
Category
|
Frequency (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Age in years
|
20–39
40–59
60–75
Total
|
97
60
6
163
|
59.5
36.8
3.7
100.0
|
Gender
|
Male
Female
Total
|
79
84
163
|
48.5
51.5
100.0
|
Marital status
|
Single
Married
Divorced
Cohabiting
Widowed
Total
|
10
102
7
40
4
163
|
6.1
62.6
4.3
24.5
2.5
100.0
|
Level of education
|
None
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Total
|
50
85
21
7
163
|
30.7
52.1
12.9
4.3
100.0
|
Employed
|
Yes
No
Total
|
42
121
163
|
25.8
74.2
100.0
|
Type of employment
|
Self employed
Public servant
Ngo/company
Total
|
21
8
13
42
|
50.0
19.0
31.0
100.0
|
Religion
|
Christian
Moslems
Cultural beliefs
Total
|
111
50
2
163
|
68.1
30.7
1.2
100.0
|
Household monthly income
|
< 50,000/=
50,000-200,000/=
200,001-500,000/=
> 500,000/=
Total
|
20
98
35
10
163
|
12.3
60.1
21.5
6.1
100.0
|
Whom do you live with
|
Alone
Spouse
Spouse and children
Own parents
In laws
Friends
Total
|
7
12
130
9
2
3
163
|
4.3
7.4
79.8
5.5
1.2
1.8
100.0
|
Drink alcohol
|
Yes
No
Total
|
38
125
163
|
23.3
76.7
100.0
|
Smoke
|
Yes
No
Total
|
12
151
163
|
7.4
92.6
100.0
|
Prevalence of liver fibrosis among hepatitis B patients
Out of 163 study respondents, 15(9.2%) had APRI score of > 0.5, which was indicative of liver fibrosis while 148(90.8%) had no liver fibrosis, as shown in Fig. 1 below.
The prevalence of liver fibrosis was highest among the age group of 40–59 years 8(53.3%), followed by the age group 20–39 years 5(33.3%) and the lowest, 2(13.3%) in the age group 60–75 years. The prevalence of liver fibrosis by gender was highest among males 9(60.0%) and lowest among females 6(40.0%). According to marital status, it was highest among married 6(40.0%) and lowest among singles 2(13.3%). No widowed respondent had liver fibrosis as shown in Table 2 below.
Majority of those who had liver fibrosis had primary level of education, 7(46.7%), were not employed, 10(66.7%), were Christians, 10(66.7%), had a household monthly income of 50,000-200,000/= 10(66.7%), lived with their spouse and children 14(93.3%), drunk alcohol 9(60.0%) and smoked 9(60.0%) as shown in Table 2 below.
Table 2
Distribution of liver fibrosis by population demographics
Variable
|
Category
|
Has Liver fibrosis
|
Frequency (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Age in years
|
20–39
40–59
60–75
Total
|
5
8
2
15
|
33.3
53.3
13.3
100
|
Gender
|
Male
Female
Total
|
9
6
15
|
60.0
40.0
100
|
Marital status
|
Single
Married
Divorced
Cohabiting
Widowed
Total
|
2
6
2
5
0
15
|
13.3
40.0
13.3
33.3
0
100
|
Level of education
|
None
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Total
|
5
7
3
0
15
|
33.3
46.7
20.0
0
100
|
Employed
|
Yes
No
Total
|
5
10
15
|
33.3
66.7
100
|
Type of employment
|
Self employed
Public servant
Ngo/company
Total
|
2
2
1
5
|
40.0
40.0
20.0
100
|
Religion
|
Christian
Moslems
Cultural beliefs
Total
|
10
5
0
15
|
66.7
33.3
0
100
|
Household
monthly income
|
< 50,000/=
50,000-200,000/=
200,001-500,000/=
> 500,000/=
Total
|
3
10
2
0
15
|
20.0
66.7
13.3
0
100
|
Whom do you live with
|
Alone
Spouse
Spouse and children
Own parents
In laws
Friends
Total
|
0
1
14
0
0
0
15
|
0
6.7
93.3
0
0
0
100
|
Drink alcohol
|
Yes
No
Total
|
9
6
15
|
60.0
40.0
100
|
Smoke
|
Yes
No
Total
|
9
6
15
|
60.0
40.0
100
|
Factors associated with liver fibrosis among hepatitis B patients
On bivariate analysis, age group 60–75 years, drinking alcohol, and smoking had a statistically significant association with liver fibrosis with odds ratios of 0.109, 6.155, 72.5 and P values of 0.008, ≤ 0.001, ≤ 0.001 respectively as shown in Table 3 below.
Of all those who had liver fibrosis, 15(100%) were HIV negative. Most of them had detectable hepatitis B viral load, 8(53.3%), never were transfused, 11(73.3%), had never been operated, 12(80.0%) and never cared for/stayed with hepatitis B infected person 8(53.3%). On bivariate analysis, HIV status, Hep B viral load, transfusion, operation history, and caring/staying with Hep B infected people had no statistically significant association with liver fibrosis (P > 0.05) as shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3
Bivariate analysis of the factors associated with liver fibrosis.
Variable
|
Category
|
Has liver fibrosis
|
OR (95% CI)
|
P value
|
Frequency (n)
|
Percentage (%)
|
Age in years
|
20–39
40–59
60–75
Total
|
5
8
2
15
|
33.3
53.3
13.3
100
|
1
0.353(0.110–1.136
0.109(0.016–0.742
|
0.071
0.008*
|
Drink alcohol
|
No
Yes
Total
|
6
9
15
|
40.0
60.0
100
|
1
6.155(2.029–18.67)
|
≤ 0.001*
|
Smoke
|
No
Yes
Total
|
6
9
15
|
40.0
60.0
100
|
1
72.5(15.53-338.45)
|
≤ 0.001*
|
HIV status
|
Negative
Positive
Total
|
15
0
100
|
100
0
100
|
1
1.106(1.051–1.164)
|
0.389
|
Hep B viral load
|
Detectable
Not detectable
Total
|
8
7
15
|
53.3
46.7
100
|
1
1.989(0.684–5.789)
|
0.200
|
Ever been transfused
|
No
Yes
Total
|
11
4
15
|
73.3
26.7
100
|
1
1.318(0.393–4.418)
|
0.654
|
Ever been operated
|
No
Yes
Total
|
12
3
15
|
80.0
20.0
100
|
1
2.393(0.602–9.509)
|
0.203
|
Ever cared for/stayed
with hep B infected person
|
Yes
No
Total
|
7
8
15
|
46.7
53.3
100
|
1
0.420(0.144–1.226)
|
0.104
|
*Statistically significant, P < 0.05
On multivariate logistic regression analysis, only smoking (P ≤ 0.001, 95%CI 6.787-454.887, OR 55.563) had a statistically significant association with liver fibrosis as shown in Table 4 below.
Table 4
Multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors associated with liver fibrosis
Variable
|
P value
|
OR 95%CI
|
Age group 60–75 years
|
0.459
|
0.274(0.009–8.453)
|
Drinking alcohol
|
0.301
|
3.130(0.360-27.221)
|
Smoking
|
≤ 0.001*
|
55.563(6.787-454.887)
|
*Statistically significant, P < 0.05