Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Ante Natal Care in La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B disease is a major threat to public health and its chronic carriers constitute about 5% of the world’s population. Some regions of Africa and Middle East have a disproportionately higher carrier rate of 10% and 15% respectively. The risk of developing chronic hepatitis B is 95% for infections acquired during the perinatal period compared with 5% for those who acquired during adulthood and a pooled prevalence of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in previous studies is 13.1% and among the public is 12.3%. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women who attended antenatal care (ANC) in La Nkwantanang Madina municipality. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a purposively selected four (4) health institutions. A total of 258 pregnant women were selected using systematic random sampling with the daily ANC attendance sheet as sampling frame. A structured questionnaire was administered and data on their Hepatitis B status were extracted from the documentation in the Maternal record book. Hepatitis B profile test was done to determine their HBeAg status for those with HBsAg positivity status. Results: The respective prevalence of HBsAg and HBeAg determined were 8 out of 258(3.1%) (CI: 0.013 –0.060) and 1 out 8 (12.5%) (CI: 0.0981 – 2.141). Parity of 4 (OR: 1.813, CI: 1.348- 6.018, P<0.023) and secondary educational level (OR: 0.28857, CI:1.009-2.864, P< 0.013) showed statistically significant association upon Chi2 tests and simple logistic regression however multiple logistic regression showed no statistically significant association of secondary educational level apart from parity (OR:50.68, CI: 1.348-6.018, P < 0.028) which had significant association adjusting for age, number of sexual partners, marital status, receipt of blood transfusion, previous experience of caesarian session and other infections such as HIV, sickle cell and VRDL positivity. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBsAg and HBeAg among pregnant women who attended the ANC in the La Nkwatanang Municipality is relatively low. Besides parity, none of the other factors studied had any statistically significant association with the Hepatitis B infection among the pregnant women.