Epidemiology of HBV in Pregnant Women, South West Nigeria

Atilola, Glory, Tomisin, Obadara, Randle, Mayowa, Isaac, Komolafe O., Odutolu, Gbenga, Olomu, Josephine and Adenuga, Laide (2018) Epidemiology of HBV in Pregnant Women, South West Nigeria. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 8 (3-4). p. 115. ISSN 2210-6006

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Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, maternal complications, and neonatal deaths in subSaharan Africa. Pregnant women serve as a major reservoir for the persistence and ongoing transmission of hepatitis B virus and HIV in a generalized heterosexual epidemic. The aim of this study is to assess the epidemiology of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in South West-Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study of 353 pregnant women across 10 health facilities in the region. Results showed that of the 353 pregnant women tested, 37 were positive for the HBV antigen giving a prevalence estimate of 10.5% (95% CI: 7.5%–14.2%). We found significant negative association between odds of HBV infection and knowledge of HBV transmission through sex (OR: 0.30: 95%CI–0.11–0.82) and a positive association with blood transfusion in the past three months (OR: 9.5: 95% CI-1.58–57.14). Findings strongly suggest high endemicity of HBV and the possible implication of blood transfusion as a major route of ongoing HBV transmission among pregnant women in south-western Nigeria. We recommend further study of a prospective design to investigate the possible causal link between blood transfusion and the risk of HBV infection among pregnant women in Nigeria.

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