Epidemiology of HBV in Pregnant Women, South West Nigeria

Glory Atilola,Obadara Tomisin,Mayowa Randle,Komolafe O Isaac,Gbenga Odutolu,Josephine Olomu,Laide Adenuga

doi:10.2991/j.jegh.2018.09.002

Glory Atilola, Obadara Tomisin + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.09.002

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Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, maternal complications, and neonatal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women serve as a major reservoir for the persistence and ongoing transmission of hepatitis B virus and HIV in a generalized heterosexual epidemic. The aim of this study is to assess the epidemiology of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in South West-Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study of 353 pregnant women across 10 health facilities in the region. Results showed that of the 353 pregnant women tested, 37 were positive for the HBV antigen giving a prevalence estimate of 10.5% (95% CI: 7.5%–14.2%). We found significant negative association between odds of HBV infection and knowledge of HBV transmission through sex (OR: 0.30: 95%CI–0.11–0.82) and a positive association with blood transfusion in the past three months (OR: 9.5: 95% CI-1.58–57.14). Findings strongly suggest high endemicity of HBV and the possible implication of blood transfusion as a major route of ongoing HBV transmission among pregnant women in south-western Nigeria. We recommend further study of a prospective design to investigate the possible causal link between blood transfusion and the risk of HBV infection among pregnant women in Nigeria.

Highlights

The significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a public health issue is of topmost concern in sub-Saharan Africa, in Nigeria [1]
This study examined the knowledge level of pregnant women about hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) such as; person to person spread of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), previous HBV testing, knowledge of result, ever gone for treatment, HBV as a cause of liver cancer, prevention of HBV infection by use of vaccine, and sexual and blood transmission of the virus
This study examined the prevalence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among pregnant women enrolled for antenatal care across ten facilities in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

The significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as a public health issue is of topmost concern in sub-Saharan Africa, in Nigeria [1]. Despite the fact that Hepatitis B virus accounts for more deaths than each of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria [2], the performance metrics of awareness, knowledge of transmission, vaccine prevention and control remain low in most affected (high risk) populations such as pregnant women in developing countries [3]. In sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B virus remains a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, maternal complications, and neonatal deaths. Hepatitis B virus remains the most significant viral hepatitis due to the high transmission potential through blood and body fluids, especially among pregnant women [5,6].

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