Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients Attending at Addis Alem Primary Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Guhala Primary Hospital, Northwestern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections are global issues that disproportionately affect developing countries. Pregnancy-related HBV and HCV infections are associated with a high risk of vertical transmission and complications for the mother as well as the newborn. Therefore, this study aims to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Guhala Primary Hospital, Northwestern Ethiopia.

METHODS

A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted from July to September 2022 on HBV and HCV registered books from September 1, 2017, to August 30, 2019, for a year. The presence of HBsAg and anti-HCV in serum was detected using the One Step Cassette Style HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody test kit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software.

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 2252 participants for HBsAg and 538 participants for ant-HCV rapid tests of records in the laboratory logbook were included. The mean age of the study participants was 25.6years (± 5.8SD). The overall prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was 6.0% (134/2252) and 2.4% (13/538), respectively. There were 0.4% (2/538) coinfection results between HBV and HCV among pregnant women.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In this study, intermediate seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection was detected among pregnant women attending antenatal care. The Hepatitis B virus was predominantly higher among pregnant women aged between 25 and 34 years. To manage and stop the potential vertical transmission of these viral agents during the early stages of pregnancy, routine prenatal testing for HBV and HCV infections should be taken into consideration.

High Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Borumeda General Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

Background

Viral hepatitis are considered as the cause of solemn health problem for the human kind, particularly among pregnant women in the 21^th century. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women attending at Borumeda General Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Borumeda General Hospital from April to May, 2020. A consecutive total of 124 pregnant women who were attending at the antenatal clinic (ANC) of the hospital were included. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the associated factors and some sociodemographic characteristics. Five milliliters of venous blood was collected from each study participant, and a laboratory test using a rapid HBsAg and anti-HCV kit was done. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.

Results

The mean age of the study subjects was 25.81 (±5.967) years. The overall seroprevalence of either HBV or HCV infections among the study participants was 14 (11.3%). HBsAg and anti-HCV were positive among 10 (8.1%) and 4 (3.2%) study participants, respectively. There was no coinfection result between HBV and HCV among pregnant women. Pregnant women who had abortion history [AOR 5.723; 95% CI 1.100-29.785, P value = 0.038] and hospitalization history with IV medication [AOR 6.939; 95% CI 1.017-47.322, P value = 0.048] exhibited statistically significant association with HBV infection.

Conclusions

Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections among pregnant women was high, and the rate of HBV particularly can be considered in the high endemic category of the WHO classification scheme. Continuous screening of pregnant mothers, provision of hepatitis B vaccine for females at the child-bearing age, and health education to create awareness about HBV and HCV should be implemented.