Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Antenatal Clinic attendees in a Private Specialist Hospital in Onitsha Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in many regions of the world including Africa, Asia and Western Pacific1, 2. In Southeast Nigeria information on the seroprevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women is limited. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women attending antenatal care at an Onitsha specialist (private) hospital Anambra state, Southeast Nigeria.
Method: HBsAg was tested for in consenting women who attended antenatal care at Grace Specialist hospital Nkpor, Onitsha. The study women were recruited longitudinally from the hours of 8.00am to 12noon on each antenatal care day which held twice a week.
Results: The seropositivity of HbsAg in the pregnant women was 2.2%. There was no significant association between the HBsAg screening result and age or parity.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HBsAg in the pregnant women was 2.2% irrespective of their age, parity, or sociodemographic or biological factors. There is intermediate endemicity of HBsAg among pregnant women in Onitsha Southeast Nigeria.

Niger Med J. Vol. 51, No. 4,Oct. – Dec., 2010: 152– 154.

Keywords: Seroprevalence, HBsAg, private hospital, Onitsha