SERO-PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN POSITIVITY AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANC AT SAINT PAUL'S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA

Abstract

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus belongs to the family of hepadna viruses, with double stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Infections by hepatitis B virus (HBV) during pregnancy have high rate of vertical transmission and the predominant modes of transmissions are mother to child in high prevalence areas. Certain practices like acupuncture, tattooing, and body piercing have also been associated with transmission of hepatitis BV. HBV can be acquired as nosocomial infection via using unscreened blood and blood products, contaminated sharp needles and equipment and unsterilized surgical instruments. Center for disease control and prevention, recommended testing of all pregnant women born in areas where the prevalence of HBsAg is ≥ 2%. This study is aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen positivity and associated risk factors in pregnant mothers who are attending ANC care at Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Methods: A cross-sectional study and a simple random sampling method was used to determine the sero-prevalence of HBsAg positivity and associated risk factors among 201 pregnant mothers who were seen at SPHMMC ANC clinic from 1st November 2018 to 30th January 2019. A prestructured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and associated risk factors. Obtained data were evaluated by frequency, logistic regression analyses, and a significance level of 5 % (α = 0.05) was established Results: The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg in this study was 4.5%. HBsAg seroprevalence was significantly higher among patients who had history of unsafe abortion ( OR 7.8; 95% CI,P=0.001) and among HIV positives (OR 6.1;95% CI,P=0.012) Conclusion and recommendation: This study showed high prevalence of HBsAg Seroprevalence among pregnant women. History of unsafe abortion and being HIV positive were found to be significant predictor of prevalence of HBsAg positivity. Increasing awareness on unsafe abortion as a risk factor of HBV and Universal screening of pregnant women for hepatitis B viruses is recommend