Abstract
Background Hepatitis E virus infection is an emerging disease with varied courses in pregnancy. There is a dearth of statistics among pregnant women. Aim To evaluate the prevalence, associated factors, and pregnancy outcome in women that tested positive for hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies in pregnancy. Research Methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women at a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Relevant information was collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood was collected from each of the participants, and the serum was used to determine the presence of hepatitis E immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG). The data were analysed using SPSS version 23. Associations between variables were determined at a p value of <0.05. Results A total of 200 pregnant women participated in this study. The prevalence of HEV infection among pregnant women was 28.00% (56/200). The mean age was 30.11 ± 5.88. Hepatitis E infection was significantly associated with age (p value = 0.028), method of faecal disposal (p value = 0.043), and source of drinking water (p value = 0.039). A total of 9/200 (4.50%) stillbirths were recorded with 3/9 (33.33%) in women that tested positive for HEV antibodies. About 4/200(2.00%) miscarriages were recorded, and 2/4 (50.00%) were in women that tested positive for HEV antibodies. Hepatitis E infection was not significantly associated with perinatal outcome (p value = 0.45). Only 1/56 (0.50%) maternal death was recorded among women that tested positive to hepatitis E, and none was recorded among those that tested negative to hepatitis E antibodies. Conclusion There was a significant statistical association between HEV infection and age, method of faecal disposal, and source of drinking water. This underscores the importance of the provision of clean water and safe faecal disposal. Hepatitis E virus infection did not significantly affect the foetal and maternal outcomes.
Highlights
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging diseasecausing viral hepatitis with both benign and severe courses which depends on the study population
Teshale et al [2] observed that 0.6% of jaundice in pregnancy was caused by acute viral hepatitis and that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection accounted for 60% of these cases. is is consistent with other studies in central India and Pakistan that showed that HEV infection accounted for 58% and 62% of cases of jaundice caused by viral hepatitis, respectively [11]
E mean age of participants was 30.11 ± 5.88. e overall age range of participants was 18 to 43 years with the highest population 57(28.50%) within the age range of 30–34 years. e prevalence of HEV infection was significantly higher in the age range of 25–29 years (24/54, 38.89%). ere was a significant association between HEV infection and age (p 0.028)
Summary
Hepatitis E virus infection is an emerging disease with varied courses in pregnancy. ere is a dearth of statistics among pregnant women. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence, associated factors, and pregnancy outcome in women that tested positive for hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies in pregnancy. E prevalence of HEV infection among pregnant women was 28.00% (56/200). Hepatitis E infection was significantly associated with age (p value 0.028), method of faecal disposal (p value 0.043), and source of drinking water (p value 0.039). A total of 9/200 (4.50%) stillbirths were recorded with 3/9 (33.33%) in women that tested positive for HEV antibodies. About 4/200(2.00%) miscarriages were recorded, and 2/4 (50.00%) were in women that tested positive for HEV antibodies. Hepatitis E infection was not significantly associated with perinatal outcome (p value 0.45). Ere was a significant statistical association between HEV infection and age, method of faecal disposal, and source of drinking water. Hepatitis E virus infection did not significantly affect the foetal and maternal outcomes
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