Seroprevalence Of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Sudanese Men Whipped During Wedding Ceremonies In Al-Gadarif State

Abstract

Whipping ritual during Sudanese wedding ceremonies could be associated with blood-borne infection that results from viruses such as hepatitis B virus, HCV and HIV. This study was aimed to investigate hepatitis B virus infection among men whipped during Sudanese wedding ceremonies using enzyme-linked immunesorbant Assay (ELISA) for detection of HBs Ag. This was a comparative cross-sectional study which was carried out during the period from January to April 2017. A total of hundred rural participants living in Al-Gadarif State were recruited in the study. The men recruited in this study were divided into whipped men (n=50) this involved those who strip off their clothes and get whipped (lashed) during wedding ceremonies. The other group (n=50) included those men who have never participated in this whipping ritual. The results revealed that 9(18%) were positive for HBs Ag, among those whipped during ceremonies, while 41(82%) were negative. In the other group 1(2%) was positive for HBs Ag and 49(98%) were negative. The comparison between HBs Ag and the population yielded significant statistical relationship (p > 0.05). The highest frequency of HBs Ag was 6 (12%) among age group (29-37) yrs old. While the frequency was 3 (6%) in the age group (20-28) Yrs old among whipped groups. This study revealed that HBV infection was more prevalent among the elder age groups. The frequency of whipping ritual has an impact on prevalence of the HBV infection since the study showed that men whipped frequently between (10-17) years were the most infected 6(12%) out the total 9(18%) among the whipped group. Further studies are required to validate these results.