Hepatitis B Virus Infectivity Status among Pregnant Women in Sokoto, Nigeria https://doi.org/10.60787/NMJ-64-1-236

Abstract

Background: Infection with the Hepatitis B Virus is a worldwide public health issue. It is highly endemic in Nigeria, and epidemiological data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women is sparse, particularly in rural areas. The goal of this study was to find out how common HBV infection is in rural pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria, as well as the factors that contribute to it.

Methodology: Pregnant women seeking prenatal treatment at Maryam Abacha Hospital in Sokoto were studied in a cross-sectional study. We randomly selected 300 pregnant women who were attending prenatal appointments. A pre-tested questionnaire was employed to collect socio-demographic data and factors linked to HBV infection. Commercial test strips were used to identify the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). To determine HBV infection correlates, regression analyses were utilized.

Results: The average age was 31.8 years (SD6.2). Only 47% of women had completed secondary school. Sixteen women (5.3%) tested positive for HBsAg, with 6.3 % testing positive for HBeAg. HIV infection was found in 0.33 % of the population. A history of jaundice (p = 0.046) and a history of sexually transmitted infections (p=0.005) was found to be independent correlates of HBV infection.

Conclusion: The high incidence of women who tested positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg shows that prenatal transmission of HBV is the most common mechanism of HBV transmission in this area.