Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women Attending a Public Health Facility in Osogbo, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among pregnant women has a high rate of vertical transmission and consequential effects on fetal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in Osogbo, Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY

This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending routine antenatal care clinic between April and June 2021. Systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 240 pregnant women, their data were collected by face to face interview using a pretested questionnaire, while blood sample was collected aseptically to determine hepatitis B surface antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test kit. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the association between explanatory variables and outcome variable.

RESULTS

The mean age and seroprevalence of the study population were 27.50 ± 4.4 years and 5.8% respectively. The significant risk factors for HBV infection were tattooing (aOR = 5.22; 95% CI = 0.52-8.01; p = 0.0000), history of multiple sexual partners (aOR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.92-12.42; p = 0.0044); and past history of contact with HBV patient (aOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.21-15.32; p = 0.0310) were significant predictors of HBV infection.

CONCLUSION

The seroprevalence of HBV from this study was of intermediate endemicity. We therefore, advocate for continuous health education programs on the mode of HBV transmission, high-risk behaviors and methods of preventions at antenatal care clinics to raise the awareness of mothers and limit the spread of infection.