Abstract:
Background: Chronic Hepatitis B virus infection is the most common cause of hepatocellular
carcinoma , accounting for 50% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases worldwide and up to 80% of
cases in high hepatitis B virus endemic regions. Transmission of hepatitis B virus from carrier
mothers to their babies can occur during the perinatal period, and appears to be the most
important factor in determining the prevalence of the infection in high endemicity areas. Data on
sero-prevalence and associated factors has paramount important in the prevention and control
of the disease, therefore the present study was undertaken to generate data on sero-prevalence
and associated factors for hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in the study area.
Objective: To determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Pregnant
Women and to identify associated factors with the infection among pregnant women attending
antenatal care clinic in Jijiga town public Health facilities, Somali Regional State.
Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in the antenatal care clinics of
Karmara Hospital and JIjiga Health Center from September26 to October 26/2013. Data
including socio-demographic and economic characteristics were collected using a structured
questionnaire, following the interview blood specimens were also collected for detection of
hepatitis B virus surface antigen from 222 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of both
health facilities. Then bivarate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to
see the association between HBsAg sero-positivity and various factors, afterwards AOR 95%
confidence level with P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: In this study, 4.5% of the pregnant women were reactive for HBsAg. Among the
various factors affecting HBsAg sero-positivity, history of hospitalization (AOR [95%CI]
=6.4[1.6-26.3]) with P=0.009, and pregnant women that had dental procedure (AOR [95%CI]
= 5.2[1.3-21.1) with P=0.02 were found as independent predictors.
Conclusion: This study has shown that HBV prevalence in pregnant women is of intermediate
endemicity. Regarding risk factors history of hospitalization and dental procedures were the
independent predictors for sero-positivity of HBsAg. Hence routine screening of pregnant
women for HBV infection and improving aseptic techniques in health facilities is needed
