RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and possible risk factors in pregnant women.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional serological survey of women attending antenatal clinics.

SETTING

Five antenatal clinics in Aba, South Eastern Nigeria.

SUBJECTS: Eight hundred and ten consecutive and consenting antenatal clinic attendees over the period 15 June-15 November 2010.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each pregnant woman, the medical and sociodemographic data were documented. Hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity determined.

RESULTS

Twenty two (2.7%) of the 810 subjects were found to be HBsAg seropositive and asymptomatic. Maternal age, parity, educational level attained, marital status, history of blood transfusion, intravenous drug use, tattooing, jaundice in the past and Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositivity did not show any association with HBsAg sseropositivity.

CONCLUSION

HBsAg seropositive women in the study were asymptomatic and showed no associationwith the medical and sociodemographic characteristics examined. These findings affirm the recommendation for universal HBsAg screening in pregnancy and imply that screening on the basis of the presence of risk factors alone may be insufficient.