Magnitude and Associated Risk Factor of HBV Virus Among Pregnant Mothers Attending Antenatal Care in Debre Tabor Referral Hospital; Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: Hepatitis is a contagious liver disease caused by Hepatitis B virus. When a pregnant mother infected, the Hepatitis B virus can stay in the body and Vertical transmit to baby and develop chronic liver disease. In regarding to this Neonatal immunization interrupts this vertical transmission and used to take preventive action. For that reason, this study was undertaken with the aim of determine the magnitude and predisposing factors of HBV infections among pregnant women. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted 333 pregnant women attending ANC from September 2020 to November 2020 at Debre Tabor Referral Hospital antenatal care clinic. Appropriate sample was collected; serum separated and tested with ELISA test for the detection of HBsAg. Fishers exact test was employed to see the association between variables as well as Logistic regression were applied to identify potential risk factors (P-value < 0.05) was considered as statistically significant. A total of 333 pregnant women within 100% response rate; were enrolled in this study and the magnitude of HBV infections found to be were (22.2%). among the potential risk factors multiple sexual behavior (AOR 3.096), 95% CI=1.469-6.525, <i>P-value</i>=0.003), shaving habit (AOR 3.375, 95% CI=1.511-7.538, <i>P-value</i>=0.003), a history of needle stick injury (AOR 4.080, 95% CI=2.041-8.156, <i>P-value</i>=0.000), history of common usage of Sharpe materials (AOR 8.229, 95% CI=3.991-16.967, <i>P-value</i>=0.000) and history of home delivery by traditional attendants were (AOR 1.557, 95% CI=0.621-3.899, <i>P-value</i>=0.000) were significantly associated with important predictors of hepatitis B infection. <i>For that reason</i> this study showed high endemicity of HBV infection among pregnant women. Multiple sexual practices, history of home delivery, needle stick injury, common usage of Sharpe materials and shaving habit were major factors for hepatitis B virus transmission. Thus, scaling up of screening pregnant women for HBV infection and provision of health education about risk factors and testing all pregnant mothers for hepatitis B virus should be a regular feature of the ANC service. Other community studies, as well as screening HBV antigen marker conducting, will play an important role in accurately determining the true spread of hepatitis B virus in the general population.