Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health problem. With about 380 million chronic carriers of the HBV virus, there are over two million global deaths annually. Ghana is among the high endemic countries in Africa, with HBV prevalence ranging from 4.8% to 12.3% in the general population, 10.8% to 12.7% in blood donors and about 10.6% in antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees. The main objectives of this study were to test how socioeconomic factors, risky behaviors, knowledge and awareness of HBV infection correlate with actual HBV status among antenatal clinic attendees and to determine the predictors of HBV testing among ANC attendees. The study employed random sampling technique to sample 500 pregnant women, at mothersâ clinic of Volta Regional Hospital, Ho, Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, Hepatitis B status, possible risk factors, awareness and knowledge levels of HBV infection. Cross tabulation and the chi-square (Ï2) statistic were used to determine statistical independence or association of study variables. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to test for the differences in HBV knowledge scores across HBV status and levels of HBV awareness; and the binomial regression model was used to determine the predictors of HBV testing among ANC attendees. It is evident that age, religion, ethnicity, educational level, blood transfusion, number of blood transfusions, gravidity, parity, awareness of HBV and monthly income were associated with HBV status. Results of the Binomial Logistic Regression model indicate that Age (p = 0.03), Education level (p = 0.04), Religion (p = 0.04), Ethnicity (p = 0.00) and Blood transfusion (p = 0.04) were significant (p 0.05) predictors of HBV testing. Knowledge of HBV status enables patients to seek early treatment, facilitates referral for social support and counseling. We recommend that the Ministry of Health should carry effective education on HBV and its prevention for women of child-bearing age.
Highlights
With about three hundred and eighty million chronic carriers of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) globally and over two million global deaths annually, HBV infection remains a global health problem [1]
The study formulated a Binomial regression model to determine the predictors of HBV testing among antenatal clinic attendees
Given that infected pregnant women stand the chance of transmitting the HBV infection to their newborn babies, a cross-sectional study was conducted to test how socioeconomic factors, risky behaviors, knowledge and awareness of HBV infection correlate with HBV status among antenatal clinic attendees of Volta Regional hospital and to determine the predictors of HBV testing among antenatal clinic attendees at the hospital
Summary
With about three hundred and eighty million chronic carriers of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) globally and over two million global deaths annually, HBV infection remains a global health problem [1]. HBV is among a group of viruses known as hepatotropic virus, belonging to the family hepadnavirus [2]. The blood transports HBV to the liver, where replication of the virus only occurs [3]. Among hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, HBV is the most important hepatitis virus during pregnancy [4]. Hepatitis B virus-related liver diseases include chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [5]
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