Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women at the antenatal booking clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and assess the major risk factors among Nigerian pregnant women.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among pregnant women at the antenatal clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A total number of 150 consenting pregnant women were selected for the study. A structured pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Sera were collected and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).


RESULTS
Of the 150 women screened during the study, 11 (7.3%) were seropositive for HBsAg. Of these 11 women, 4 (36.4%) were also positive for HBeAg. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean ages of participants who were seropositive for HBsAg and those who were negative for the virus (P=0.888). There were statistically significant differences in the seroprevalence of HBsAg recorded among respondents with previous surgery (odd ratio [OR]-2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]-1.08-16.67; P=0.046), previously affected sibling or spouse (OR-5.03; 95% CI-1.11-25.27; P=0.001) and those with two or more lifetime sexual partners (OR-4.11; 95% CI-2.85-9.22; P=0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
The sero-prevalence rate of HBV infection and also its infectivity is high in Lagos, Nigeria. These findings thus support the need for a nationwide policy of routine and widespread HBV screening among pregnant women.
M A
MA
Adegbesan-Omilabu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
K S
KS
Okunade
A
A
Gbadegesin
O F
OF
Olowoselu
A A
AA
Oluwole
S A
SA
Omilabu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens