High Prevalence of Hepatitis E IgM Antibody among Pregnant Women in Their Second and Third Trimester in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Background: Pregnant women with Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, particularly those in the second or third trimester, are at increased risk of acute liver failure, fetal loss, and mortality; but unfortunately, routine HEV screening is yet to be introduced for pregnant women in Nigeria and many developing nations. This study was conducted to determine HEV prevalence and the associated risk factors among pregnant women unaware of their HEV status in three states of the southwestern geopolitical zone in Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-two consenting pregnant women aged 18 -55 years from Lagos, Oyo, and Osun state were recruited for the study and screened for HEV IgM antibodies using DIAPRO HEV IgM ELISA KIT (Milanno-Italy). Sociodemographic data and risk factors were obtained using a structured questionnaire, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: An overall HEV prevalence rate of 9.9% was observed among pregnant women in Southwest Nigeria. State-specific prevalence of 14.7%, 8.5%, and 6.7% was observed in Oyo, Lagos, and Osun, respectively. HEV prevalence increased with increase in trimester of pregnancy, with more than 80% of the HEV prevalence found among women in their second and third trimester. All the HEV prevalence occurring in women of active childbearing age (≤ 40 years) and among low-income earners. None of the risk factors considered was found to have a statistical correlation with HEV prevalence. Conclusion: High HEV prevalence in the second and third trimesters was reported in southwest Nigeria. We advocate routine screening of pregnant women for HEV IgM antibody for prompt HEV detection and proper HEV management to forestall HEV complications in pregnancy.