Prevalence of hepatitis b surface antigen among pregnant women attending antenatal care service at Debre-Tabor Hospital, northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problem worldwide. It is highly endemic in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Horizontal and perinatal transmissions are thought to be major modes of transmission in these countries. The present study was undertaken to determine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection using hepatitis B surface antigen marker and to identify the possible risk factors for acquisition of the infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care service at Debre-Tabor Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2004 in a total of 209 pregnant women aged 16-40 years attending the antenatal clinic, DebreTabor Hospital. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 11.0. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among pregnant women was 5.3%. Majority of the study participants 6 (75.9%) belonged to age group of 16-22 years. History of use of sharp materials, hypodermic needles and tattoo for cosmetics had statistically significant association with the hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity (p <0.05). There was an intermediate endemicity of hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care service at Debre Tabaor Hospital. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that HBV prevalence in pregnant women is of intermediate endemicity (5.3%) in the study area and use of sharp materials, hypodermic needles and tattoo for cosmetics were associated with hepatitis B infection. Therefore increasing awareness of transmission of hepatitis B infection through traditional unsafe injections and harmful traditional practices is needed.