Awareness on the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection and mother-to-child transmission among the pregnant women of the first antenatal examination

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection and mother-to-child transmission among pregnant women. Methods From January 2016 to January 2018, a total of 800 pregnant women were selected from Xingtan Hospital Affiliated of Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University as subjects. A questionnaire on hepatitis B virus infection and mother-to-child transmission was sent to pregnant women with first birth examination and collected anonymously. The degree of prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection and mother-to-child transmission among pregnant women and its related factors were analyzed. Results A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed and 739 were collected, of which 734 were valid questionnaires, accounting for 91.75%; the average score of HBV infection among 734 pregnant women was (6.10 ± 1.31) and (3.86 ± 1.53), respectively. The number of pregnant women aged 25-35 years was the highest (69.48%), while the number of pregnant women over 35 years old was the least (4.77%) and the score of knowledge was (6.97 ± 1.08) of the pregnant women older than 35 years old. There were significant differences in knowledge scores among three different ages of pregnant women (F = 7.231, P = 0.040). There were more first-time pregnant women (74.80%), and the scores of knowledge and attitude of women with pregnant experience were (6.29 ± 1.44) and (3.99 ± 1.57), respectively, with significant difference compared with those of first pregnant women (t = 1.412, P = 0.029; t = 1.902, P = 0.016). The scores of knowledge and attitude of pregnant women with different levels of education (primary school and below, junior middle school, high school and above) were statistically significant (F = 31.391, P = 0.001; F = 8.273, P = 0.001). There were 78 pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, but the scores of knowledge and attitude of them were higher than those without hepatitis B virus infection, the scores were (6.66 ± 1.17) and (4.35 ± 1.43), respectively, with significant difference (F = 6.632, P = 0.016; F = 2.413, P = 0.029). Conclusions The knowledge about hepatitis B virus infection and prevention and control measures of mother-to-child transmission in pregnant women with first birth examination is not enough, and age and education level are the important factors influencing the interviewee’s knowledge of hepatitis B and attitude towards mother and child blocking measures. Key words: First-time prenatal examination for pregnant women; Hepatitis B virus infection; Prevention of mother-to-child transmission