Sero-prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection among pregnant women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the two most important agents of infectious diseases. Both HBV and HIV share common modes of transmission and have serious effects on both pregnant women and infants. In Bahir Dar city administration, there is a scarcity of information on sero-prevalence of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women. The main objective of this study was to assess sero-prevalence and risk factors of HIV and HBV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2013 to April 2013. Socio-demographic and explanatory variables were collected using a structured questionnaire by face to face interview. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIV infection was also detected using the national HIV test algorithms. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The odds ratio and 95% Confidence intervals were calculated.ResultsA total of 318 pregnant women with the mean age of 25.72 (SD. ±5.14) years old were enrolled. Overall, 21/318 (6.6%) and 12 /318 (3.8%) of the pregnant women were positive for HIV and HBsAg, respectively. Of these, HIV/HBV co-infection rate was 4 (19.0%). Previous history of blood transfusion (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI, 9.02-14.84), body tattooing (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI, 1.24-26.50), history of surgery (AOR = 11.1, 95% CI, 2.64-46.88) and unsafe injection (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI, 1.44-22.19) were significantly associated with HBV infection. Previous history of piercing with sharp materials (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.17-7.80) and history of abortion (AOR = 6.6, 95% CI 2.50-17.71) were also statistically significant for HIV infection.ConclusionsThis study indicates that HIV and HBV infections are important public health issues in our region that need to be addressed. All pregnant women need to be screened for both HIV and HBV infections during antenatal care. Furthermore, health education about modes of transmission of HIV and HBV has to be given.

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV in Pregnant Women in the Community in the Democratic Republic of Congo

“…The difference can be explained by the fact that our survey was conducted in the general population as the two results (national and serosurveillance) are in sentinel sites used by pregnant women. Our HIV prevalence is lower than that observed in studies conducted in Pointe Noire (7.6%) and Ethiopia (6.6%) [1] [12]. HIV prevalence among pregnant women appears to be a good reflection of the prevalence in the general population in the latter two countries, the overall prevalence is also higher than that of the DRC.…”

“…Our study showed tattooing or scarification as the main risk factor. This risk factor (tattoo) was also found in studies in Mali and Ethiopia [12] [17].…”

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositivity among Pregnant Women in Kigali, Rwanda: A Cross Sectional Study

“…Contrary to the other studies [5,12,14,26,33,37,[47][48][49], older age, gravida two or more, increasing parity, a history of blood transfusion, history of tattooing, previous surgical procures, higher number of sexual partners, polygamy and history of previous STIs did not show any statistically significant correlations with HBsAg positivity in this study.…”

“…Most of the studies report the mean age of the study subjects to be between 25 to 28 years [37,38]. This is expected because majority of women in the child bearing age are in their twenties.…”

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen among childbearing-age women in Mianyang, China

“…Although HBsAg seroprevalence and its risk factors have already been investigated in various groups (general population [14], blood donors [15], healthcare workers [16], and pregnant women [17]), few studies have focused on HBsAg seroprevalence and its associated factors among childbearing-age women. Furthermore, HBeAg seroprevalence and its associated factors among HBsAg-positive childbearing-age women in China remains largely unknown, and efficient strategies to control HBV infection among childbearing-age women are lacking.…”