PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN SELECTED SECONDARY HEALTH FACILITIES IN IBADAN

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem being the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Major route of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in developing countries is from mother to child. Immunoprophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccination within 12 hours of birth is recommended for newborns of HBV positive mothers, to reduce the rate of HBV transmission. In spite of this, routine antenatal screening for hepatitis B virus among pregnant women is not yet practiced in many hospitals in Ibadan . Most studies on hepatitis B virus infection have focused on other subgroups of at risk individuals, information on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending secondary health facilities in Ibadan is scanty. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in selected secondary health facilities in Ibadan. This was a hospital - based cross sectional study of 370 pregnant women at first antenatal visit at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital Yemetu and Jericho Specialist hospital, Ibadan. A total sample of women was taken within a period of one month (1st to 31st December, 2014). A pretested, semi structured, interviewer -administered questionnaire was administered to obtain information on the social demographic characteristics, obstetric and risk perception associated with hepatitis B virus infection, awareness on hepatitis B virus, screening, vaccination and knowledge on Hepatitis B virus infection (total score obtainable was 11 , score above 6 or equal to 6 was categorized as good knowledge). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening was carried out, using invitro diagnostic strip. HIV- HBV co infection was determined. Data analyses were carried out using univariate, chi-square, and binary logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Mean age of the study participants was 28 .75 ± 5.2lyrs. Majority (87.0%) were married, 18.4% were in polygamous relationships, 50.5% had secondary education, 49.7% were business women, traders and 92.2% were Yorubas. More than half of the respondents were multigravida (58.4%), majority had one sexual partner (98.1% ) and 7.2% had history of blood transfusion. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus was 9.5%. The HIV-HBV co infection was 0.8%. The level of awareness of hepatitis B virus was 24.6%, screening was 26.0%, vaccination was 28.6%, and 35.2% of those that have heard of HBV had good knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection. Only 12.2% had been screened for HBV and 6% had received HBV vaccine. Polygamous relationships (OR = 13.280, 95% CI= 2.678 - 65.853) and ethnicity (OR = 0.054, 95% CI = 0.003- 0.969) were found to be risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis B virus prevalence was high, implying that Ibadan is an area of high HBV endemicity. Pregnant women should be screened routinely for hepatitis B virus in all health facilities, to enable identification and prophylaxis for infants of HBV positive mothers. Health interventions especially information, education, communication should be targeted at women of reproductive age, especially those in polygamous relationships.