Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Virus Infection And Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care At Kisugu Health Center III.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is life-threatening both to the pregnant woman and the fetus. Consequently, there is growing need to explore the status of the pregnant woman and avert the potential risk of perinatal transmission. Additionally, understanding the associated factors is critical for infection prevention and control. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at Kisugu Health Centre III.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Kisugu Health Centre III between September and October, 2021. Blood samples were collected in red tops by venipuncture and analyzed for the presence of Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) using ASTRACARE HBsAg Rapid Test strips and positive samples were confirmed using Enzyme-linked Immunoarbsorbent assay (ELISA). A researcher administered questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic characteristics and the associated factors. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20.

Results: Four hundred pregnant women were enrolled. Their age ranged from 15 to 40 years with a mean age of 24.93 years. Prevalence of HBsAg was 3.5% (95% CI 1.7 – 5.3). Also, 64.3% were single pregnant women and majority (38.3%) were in the age category of 22-26 years. The variables of age group (OR = 1.838, 95% CI 0.026 – 0.033, p value = 0.019), gravidity (OR = 0.869, 95% CI 0.066 – 0.076, p value = 0.045) and history of dental procedures (OR = 2.914, 95% CI 0.004 – 0.007. p value = 0.004) showed a statically significant association with the risk of HBV infection.

Conclusion: There is a low-intermediate prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among the study population at Kisugu Health Centre III, and the risk was associated with the history of dental procedure, gravidity and age group. To this, there is an urgent need to avert the likely risk of perinatal transmission.