Prevalence, infectivity and correlates of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in a rural district of the Far North Region of Cameroon (original) (raw)
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Burden of HBV Infection among Pregnant Women in a Low Income City of Ibadan, Nigeria
World Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019
Mother to child HBV transmission has been a prominent cause of ailment among children which progresses to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. About a million die annually as a result of these complications. This study focused on the evaluation of HBsAg prevalence among pregnant women in a secondary health institution in Ibadan, Oyo State. Seven hundred and ninety nine(799) pregnant women who attended antenatal between March and December, 2017 were recruited into this cross sectional study. Blood samples were aseptically withdrawn from each of the women after informed consent was obtained. Samples were centrifuged, sera separated and kept at-20°C. Analysis was thereafter carried out following the manufacturers' guideline using conventional method. Out of the 799 pregnant women tested in total, 54 (6.8%) were HBsAg positive. The age groups with the highest prevalence rate were 35-39 (31.5%) and 30-34 years (24.1%). The least educated had the lowest prevalence of 14.8%(p>0.05).Free hospital screening and vaccination of all pregnant women together with their babies should be included in the antenatal and postnatal programmes of hospitals to prevent mother to child transmission. Other serological markers like anti-HBs, anti-HBe and anti-HBc are advocated for to be also included in the antenatal programme nationwide for pregnant women and those negative should be vaccinated to confer protection against HBV infection.
Epidemiology of HBV in pregnant women, South West Nigeria
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, maternal complications, and neonatal deaths in sub-Saharan 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 southwestern 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.
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 2019
Background: Vertical transmission is an important route of transmission for hepatitis B virus infection. Despite the introduction of HBV vaccine in the extended immunization program in 2005, Cameroon has remained a hyper-endemic area. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B Virus among antenatal clinic attenders in Penka-Michel-Cameroon, and to identify potential risk factors associated with the infection for a better prevention of the disease. Study Design: The study was a case control study conducted in four reference hospitals in Penka-Michel, a rural area in west region of Cameroon during April to July 2014. Methodology: Six hundred and forty three (643) pregnant women were recruited. The DiaSpot HBsAg in vitro diagnostic test strips were first used. Positive samples were further confirmed for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBe and anti-HBc using an immunoassay kit. Liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) were also evaluated for HBsAg positive samples usi...
Journal of Medical Microbiology & Diagnosis
Background: According to the WHO report, Ethiopia is regarded as a country with intermediate to hyperendemic viral hepatitis infections, though it has no national strategy for surveillance, prevention and control of viral hepatitis. Without intervention, a mother who is positive for HBsAg and HBeAg has as high as 90% risk of passing the infection to her offspring. Therefore, this study tried to assess the seroprevalence and associated factors of HBV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in public health facilities of Dire-Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2018 among 334 pregnant mothers. After obtaining a consent forms, data were collected by face to face interview and blood samples were collected to test for HBsAg. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors significantly associated with HBV infection. A p value <0.05 was considered as level of significance. Results: The mean age of participated pregnant mothers was 24.93 years (+2 SD 5.21). The prevalence of HBV infection found to be 8.4% in the study area. On multivariate analysis, being single pregnant mothers (p-0.002), having nose/ear pierce (p-0.018), history of blood transfusion (p-0.008), circumcision (p-0.004), and HIV coinfection (p-0.032)} were factors significantly associated with HBV infection. Conclusion: To halt spread of this virus, increasing awareness on modes of transmission should be considered. Screening all pregnant women for HBV should be made as part of routine antenatal care service. Interventions should be targeted on reduction of circumcision by all concerned bodies.
Serological Status of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women in the Mifi District (West Cameroon)
2023
Introduction: Mother-to-child transmission is a major route of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission, particularly in highly endemic areas. The aim of our work was to determine the extent of HBV serological markers in pregnant women in the Mifi district (West Cameroon). Method: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study over a period of two months from 01 August to 02 October 2022. For the search for serological markers, we used immuno-chromatographic tests [HBV 5-in-1 Hepatitis B Virus markers Rapid Test Panel (serum/plasma), China, 2022] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [Hepatitis B Virus surface Antigen (HBsAg) ELISA Test Kit, lot: HBSG37310B, China, 2022], both of which are from HIGHTOP. The markers investigated by the immuno-chromatographic tests were HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the degree of association with HBsAg carriage at the 5% significance level. Results: A total of 109 pregnant women were enrolled in the present study, the mean age was 26.89 ± 6 years with a range of 16 to 42 years. The following serological profiles were obtained in 27 (24.77%) participants and distributed as follows 19% (5/27) of the pregnant women were surface antigen positive (AgHbs +; AcHbc +); 37% (10/27) had been in contact with the virus in the past and were cured (AcHbs +; AcHbc +), 7% (2/27) had been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (AgHBs-; Ac Hbs +; Ac anti Hbc-) and 37% (10/27) were in contact with the virus (AcHbc +). Logistic regression analyses revealed no association between socio-demographic variables and HBsAg carriage. Conclusion: In sum, the present work resulted in a prevalence of HBsAg of 4.59% (5/50); with an estimated marker positivity of 11% (12/50); 22.94% (25/50); 7.34% (8/50) and 0% for HBsAg, cAbAg, HBeAg and HBeAg respectively. Furthermore, no socio-demographic variables showed an association with HBsAg carriage.
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are viral infections that are transmitted through transfusion of unscreened blood products, needlestick injuries, and unprotected sex. This was a study to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and HIV infection among pregnant women accessing antenatal care. Materials and Methods: Two ml of venous blood was also collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid bottles for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HIV test using a rapid diagnostic test kit following the standard algorithm of performing diagnosis. Results: Of the 250 participants examined for the presence of HBV and HIV among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in Calabar, 14 (5.6%) and 3 (1.2%) were positive for HBsAg and HIV. Participants aged 26-30 years had the highest prevalence of HBsAg 8 (7.0%) and participants aged 31-35 had the highest prevalence of HIV 1 (3.2%). The seroprevalence of HBsAg and HIV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics by occupation shows that students had the highest infection rate of 3 (9%) and 2 (6%) for HBsAg and HIV. Of the 250 participants enrolled, the level of HIV and HBV awareness was 178 (71.2%) and 242 (96.8%), respectively. Conclusions: The study has revealed that the prevalence of HBV and HIV is on the increase among pregnant women, with a prevalence of 5.6% and 1.2%, respectively. General precautions need to be strictly adhered to in the hospital and particularly in blood transfusion and handling of sharps objects.
Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Background: Hepatitis B virus is one of the major infectious diseases and caused by a small enveloped DNA virus. Globally, 360 million people have a chronic HBV infection, and greater than three fourth of these live in the Western Pacific Region and Africa, considered as a region with high endemicity. Hepatitis B virus infection during pregnancy has a high risk of vertical transmission and is harmful to both the mother and the newborn. There is a lack of information regarding the prevalence of HBV infection and its contributing factors among pregnant women in Bahir Dar City. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women who had Antenatal Care services at Felegehiwot Comprehensive specialized Hospital in Bahir Dar City. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was employed at Felegehiwot Comprehensive specialized Hospital among 221 mothers. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants and data was collected using structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview and chart reviews. Data were entered into SPSS version 25 and cleaned, coded and analyzed. Bivariate and multi-variable logistic regression analysis was used. P<0.05 was used to express the statistical significance of the variables. Result: Prevalence of HBV infection is found to be 4.5% among study participants. History of blood transfusion [AOR=13.4, 95% CI (1.79-101.36)], genital mutilation [AOR=11.2, 95% CI (1.20-104.3)] and body tattooing [AOR= 6.6, 95% CI (1.29-33.7)] were the significantly associated determinant factors for HBV infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of the HBV was intermediate, according to WHO classification criteria. History of blood transfusion, body tattooing and genital mutilation were the determinant factors identified Abyot Terefe Teshome et al.:
Clinical Microbiology and Research, 2019
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) when transmitted vertically can be severe on neonates and life threatening. Among others, risk factors for HBV include unprotected sex, needle-stick injuries and blood transfusion. The study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HBV markers and associated risk factors among one hundred and sixty consenting pregnant women attending some hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. Using enzymelinked immunoassay, sera were screened for HBV sero-markers and structured questionnaires were administered to obtain sociodemographic data and possible predisposing factors to HBV infection. Of the five HBV markers known, participants tested positive for four, which include HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAb and HBcAb. All were seronegative for HBeAg. Ninety three percent (93.1%) tested positive for at least one HBV marker and 6.9% were seronegative for all markers. Among those that tested positive for HBsAg, 54.5% (p=0.33) were housewives, 36.4% (p=0.53) had only primary school education, 72.7% (p=0.14) were middle-class, none had previous knowledge of HBV infection and its mode of transmission, 54.5% (p=0.14) regularly shares sharp objects, 45.5% (p=0.37) had ear or nose piercing, and 9.1% (p=0.01) regularly shares towel and underwear. A large percentage of the study group had history of the infection while only 1.3% of the subjects were vaccinated. Sociodemographic background of the participants, low vaccination coverage and certain risk factors like the sharing of unsterilized sharp objects seem to aid the moderately high prevalence of HBV in this study. The study also revealed that the risk of mother-to-child HBV transmission is low in the study area and that incomplete vaccination may not confer artificial immunity against HBV infection.
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria
Annals of African Medicine, 2020
Objectives:The study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) positivity among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria.Methodology:This was a cross-sectional study carried out among the pregnant population in five healthcare facilities in Jos, between November 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. Informed consent was obtained, and data on sociodemographic and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were collected. Hepatitis B viral infection was assessed using the in vitro HBsAg diagnostic rapid kit (Acon Laboratories, USA). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were performed to identify predictors of HBV infection in the study population. All statistical analyses were carried out on STATA version 15.Results:Of the 3,238 women enrolled, 7.4% (241/3238) (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.6% to 8.4%) were HBsAg positive. The absence of HBV vaccination (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.49–4.09; P < 0.001), co-infection with HIV (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.18–3.08; P = 0.009), and higher parity (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.04–1.79; P = 0.024) were independently associated with HBV infection in pregnancy.Conclusions:The prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women was high, especially among those without prior vaccination for HBV, those with HIV co-infection and higher parity.
Public Health in Practice, 2021
Approximately 257 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) especially in the middle and low-income countries, despite the Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis 2016-2021 which aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a common public health problem in Cameroon with a high prevalence among pregnant women. Therefore, this study was designed to assess risk factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal care unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Study design: The study was a health facility-based cross-sectional study carried out from March to May 2020. The inclusion criteria were all pregnant women who came for their first visit. Methods: A well-structured questionnaire and laboratory test methods were used to collect data from 221 pregnant women who were consecutively enrolled in the study. The OnSite HBsAg Rapid Test (source: CTK Biotech, Inc. REF: R0040), was used to detect HBsAg in serum. Both descriptive statistics and Chi-square (and Fisher's exact) test were used for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women was 4.98% (11/221). Although knowledge, attitude and practice towards HBV by pregnant women were not significantly associated with the risk of infection, there were higher odds of poor practice (P = 0.0152) and attitudes (P = 0.0016) among those without knowledge on HBV infection. Conclusions: Free of charge vaccination for those with negative HBsAg test results and extensive health education campaigns against HBV is recommended among pregnant women attending the antenatal care unit of the Bamenda Regional Hospital.