Background Blood borne viral infections such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cause substantial mortality and morbidity worldwide. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is closely related to high risks of maternal and neonatal complications. In Ethiopia, only a little information is available on co-infection of HCV or HIV among Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive pregnant mothers. Thus, the study aimed to determine HIV or HCV co-infection and associated risk factors among HBsAg positive delivering mothers. Method A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in five governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa among 265 HBsAg positive delivering mothers in the year 2019 and 2020. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Structured questionnaires and laboratory test results were used to collect the data. SPSS version 20 software was used to enter and analyze the data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of HIV or HCV co-infections. Results Of the HBsAg positive delivering mothers, 9 (3.4%) and 3 (1.1%) were co-infected with HIV and HCV, respectively. None of them were with triplex infection. All of the socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with both HIV and HCV co-infections. Mothers who had a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were 9.3 times more likely to have HBV-HIV co-infection (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: 1.84–47.1). Mothers who had multiple sexual partners were 5.96 times more likely to have HIV co-infection (AOR = 5.96; 95% CI: 1.074–33.104). The odds of having HBV-HIV co-infection were 5.5 times higher among mothers who had a history of sharing shavers, razors, and earrings (AOR = 5.5;95% CI: 1.014–29.69). HCV co-infection was not significantly associated with any of the potential risk factors. Conclusion This dual infection rate of HBsAg positive delivering mother with HIV or HCV indicates that a substantial number of infants born in Ethiopia are at high risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV, HIV, and HCV. Thus, all pregnant mothers need to be screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV during antenatal care, and also need implementation of prevention mechanisms of MTCT of these viral infections.

Background Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is one of the serious public health problems worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy poses problems like a high risk of maternal complications, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), and challenges in the management of drugs. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of HBV infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women who attended public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method A multicenter prospective cohort study with a nested case-control was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 in 5 public hospitals with maternal and child health care services in Addis Ababa. Three hundred pregnant women whose screening results for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were positive and another 300 with negative HBsAg were involved. Laboratory test results of blood samples and structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 20 software using descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 12,138 pregnant women who screened for HBsAg as routine antenatal care (ANC), 369 (3.04%) were positive. All of the sociodemographic characteristics did not significantly differ in both the cases and the controls. Body tattooing (AOR = 1.66; 95 CI: 1.008–2.728), multiple sexual partners (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.604–3.901), family history of HBV (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.239–5.547), and sharing sharp materials (AOR = 3.02; 95% CI: 1.87–4.87) were factors associated with increased risk of HBV infection. Conclusions An intermediate endemicity of HBV infection was detected among pregnant women. Body tattooing, having multiple sexual partners, family history of HBV, and sharing sharp materials were significantly associated with HBV infection. Awareness creation on the mode of transmission and early screening of all pregnant women for HBsAg must be strengthened to minimize and control the spread of the infection.