Seroprevalence and Factors Associated With Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Antenatal Attendees in ABUTH Zaria, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nigeria is one of the sub-Saharan African countries within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) hyperendemic region for hepatitis B virus infection with prevalence greater than 8%. In this region, mother-to-child transmission is the major route of infection and approximately 90% of newborns of mothers who are seropositive for HBsAg and HBeAg become chronic carriers with a 25% risk of developing chronic liver diseases. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, and factors associated with risk of hepatitis B virus infection among antenatal attendees in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.

Methodology:  A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women Rattending the antenatal booking clinic of ABUTH, Zaria from August 2017 to January 2018. Systematic random sampling was used. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for HBV infection. Blood samples were collected and tested using the third generation ELISA kit for HBsAg (Monolisa HBsAg ULTRA BIORAD, France) and HBeAg (HBeAg & Ab, DiaPro Diagnostic Bioprobes Milano Italy). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM USA, 2011). Statistical testing was carried out with chi-square and level of significance set as P <0.05

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 26 ± 6.1 years, the highest HBV seropositivity occurred in the age group 21-25 years from a total of 192 participants. The seroprevalence of HBV obtained was 15.1%. Only 1(3.4%) woman was positive for HBeAg among the 29 HBsAg seropositive women. Past history of unsafe injections was the only risk factor significantly associated with HBV seropositivity (x²= 5.628 p-value= 0.023).

Conclusions: The seropositivity of hepatitis B virus was high among pregnant women. Interventions targeted at injection safety will help reduce the risk of infection.