SERO-PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN DURAME GENERAL HOSPITAL KEMBATA TEMBARO ZONE,ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Hepatitis is the inflammation of liver caused by viral infections. Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of maternal complication and vertical transmission that cause fetal and neonatal hepatitis which can have serious effects on the neonate, leading to impaired mental and physical health later in life. This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among pregnant women attending Antenatal care in Durame general hospital, Kembata Tembaro zone Ethiopia. Methods; A hospital based cross sectional study design was conducted from September to October 2017. Epi info stat calc formula was used to calculate sample size. Data on socieo demographic characteristics and potential factors was collected using pre-designed questionnaire. By using simple random sampling method blood samples were collected from 342 pregnant women. Serologic test kits were used to detect the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody in serum samples. The collected data was entered in to EPI info and analyzed using SPSS software. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess statistically significant association between associated factors and hepatitis B Virus and hepatitis CVirus status and p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Result; Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections was found to be 5.8% and 2.9% respectively. No pregnant women were co infected with these viruses. There was no statistically significant association between socieo-demographic variables and hepatitis B and C virus infection. Among potential risk factors blood donation (AOR=2.89, 95% CI=1.12-7.48), history of previous surgery (AOR= 2.98 95%CI=1.15-7.73) and multiple sexual exposure (AOR=3.707 95% CI=1.41-9.72) were significantly associated with hepatitis B virus infection. History of hospital admission (AOR= 4.214 95% CI=1.059-16.76) and family history of liver disease (AOR=3.91 95% CI=1.066-14.343) were significantly associated with hepatitis C virus infection. Conclusion and Recommendation; this study demonstrated intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses. No co infection with these viruses and statistically significant association was observed between socieo-demographic variables and hepatitis B and C virus infection. Blood transfusion, history of previous surgery and multiple sexual exposures were potential risk factors for hepatitis B and history of hospital admission and family history of liver disease were risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection. Hence screening pregnant women for hepatitis B and C virus infection and provision of health education about the risk factors, mode of transmission and prevention was recommended. Key words; Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C virus, Antenatal care, Pregnancy, Seroprevalence, Risk factor