Survey of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in two Selected Health Centers in Lugbe, AMAC, FCT, Abuja

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B Virus is a small, double-stranded DNA, and perinatal transmission from mother to infant at birth is highly  efficient as many as 90% of infants. This was aimed at investigating the Knowledge and Status of Hepatitis B among pregnant women  attending antenatal care in two selected health centres in Lugbe, Abuja.

Method: A total of 220 pregnant women ranging from 15- 45+  years were randomly selected and assessed on demographic characteristics, HBV, knowledge and prevention of HBV infection using a  well-structured self-administered questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0.

Result: The result revealed  that more than half (70.0%) of the respondents have not suffered the infection, while 26.8% have. More than three-quarters (85.0%) of the  participants had only a single sexual partner, and 1.4% had more than three sexual partners. The majority (58.6%) identified HBV as  the cause of hepatitis. Nevertheless, the majority were not knowledgeable about the risk factors of hepatitis, as more than half of them,  believed that avoiding multiple sexual partners, sharing sharp objects, blood transfusion and vaccination do not prevent the contraction  of the infection. There is a significant relationship between the participant's marital status, educational level and hepatitis  status(p=0.044).

Conclusion: The status of Hepatitis B virus infection was higher (26.8%) than what has been reported, and can be  attributed to a low level of knowledge among the respondents on the causes of the infection. An aggressive campaign to increase  knowledge and create more awareness among the respondents in the area should be mounted.