Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, maternal complications, and neonatal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women serve as a major reservoir for the persistence and ongoing transmission of hepatitis B virus and HIV in a generalized heterosexual epidemic. The aim of this study is to assess the epidemiology of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in South West-Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study of 353 pregnant women across 10 health facilities in the region. Results showed that of the 353 pregnant women tested, 37 were positive for the HBV antigen giving a prevalence estimate of 10.5% (95% CI: 7.5%–14.2%). We found significant negative association between odds of HBV infection and knowledge of HBV transmission through sex (OR: 0.30: 95%CI–0.11–0.82) and a positive association with blood transfusion in the past three months (OR: 9.5: 95% CI-1.58–57.14). Findings strongly suggest high endemicity of HBV and the possible implication of blood transfusion as a major route of ongoing HBV transmission among pregnant women in south-western Nigeria. We recommend further study of a prospective design to investigate the possible causal link between blood transfusion and the risk of HBV infection among pregnant women in Nigeria.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Stockdale AJ, Geretti AM. Chronic hepatitis B infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a grave challenge and a great hope. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2015;109;421–2.
Wiktor S, Hutin Y. The global burden of viral hepatitis: better estimates to guide hepatitis elimination efforts, Commentary, World Health Organization (WHO). http://www.who.int/mediacentre/commentaries/better-estimates-hepatitis/en/; 2016 [accessed 7 January 2018].
Andersson M, Rajbhandari R, Kew M, Vento S, Preiser W, Hoepelman A. et al. Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in sub-Saharan Africa: time to act. Lancet Global Health 2015;3;e358–9.
Olaleye OA, Kuti O, Makinde NO, Ujah AO, Olaleye OA, Badejoko OO, et al. Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in Ile-Ife, South Western, Nigeria. J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2013;6;231–6.
Ugbebor O, Aigbirior M, Osazuwa F, Enabudoso E, Zabayo O. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infections among pregnant women. North Am J Med Sci 2011;3;238–41.
Borgia G, Carleo M, Gaeta G, Gentile I. Hepatitis B in pregnancy. World J Gastroenterol 2012;18;4677–83.
Mutagoma M, Balisanga H, Malamba S, Sebuhoro D, Remera E, Riedel D, et al. Hepatitis B virus and HIV co-infection among pregnant women in Rwanda. BMC Infect Dis 2017;17;618.
Kourtis A, Bulterys M, Hu D, Jamieson D. HIV-HBV coinfection – a global challenge. N Engl J Med 2012;366;1749–52.
Agyeman A, Ofori-Asenso R. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B coinfection in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AIDS Res Therapy 2016;13;23.
Ndams IS, Joshua IA, Luka SA, Sadiq HO. Epidemiology of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in Minna, Nigeria. Sci World J 2008;3;5–8.
Olokoba AB, Salawu FK, Danburam A, Olokoba LB, Midala JK, Badung LH, et al. Hepatitis B virus infection amongst pregnant women in North-eastern Nigeria – a call for action. Niger J Clin Practice 2011;14;10–13.
Oneh AH. Coinfection of HIV and HBV among pregnant women attending antenatal care in some hospitals in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. (Unpublished Master thesis); 2013.
Ojide CK, Kalu E, Ogbaini-Emevon E, Nwadike VU. Coinfections of hepatitis B and C with HIV among adult patients attending HIV out-patients clinic in Benin City, Nigeria. Niger J Clin Practice 2015;18;516–21.
Oladeinde BH, Omoregie R, Oladeinde OB. Prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections among pregnant women receiving ANC in a traditional birth home in Benin City, Nigeria. Saudi J Health Sci 2013;2;113–17.
Obi RK, Umeh SC, Okurede OH, Iroagba II. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in an antenatal clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Afr J Clin Exp Microbiol 2006;7;78–82.
Buseri F, Seiyaboh E, Jeremiah Z. Surveying infections among pregnant women in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. J Global Infect Dis 2010;2;203–11.
Candotti D, Allain J. Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol 2009;51;798–809.
Dionne-Odom J, Mbah R, Rembert N, Tancho S, Halle-Ekane G, Enah C, et al. Hepatitis B, HIV, and Syphilis seroprevalence in pregnant women and blood donors in Cameroon. Infect Dis Obstetrics Gynecol 2016; 2016.
Yuen M, Wong D, Lee C, Tanaka Y, Allain J, Fung J, et al. Transmissibility of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through blood transfusion from blood donors with occult HBV infection. Clin Infect Dis 2011;52;624–32.
Seo DH, Whang DH, Song EY, Han KS. Occult hepatitis B virus infection and blood transfusion. World J Hepatol 2015;7:600–606.
Ophori E, Tula M, Azih A, Okojie R, Ikpo P. Current trends of immunization in Nigeria: prospect and challenges. Trop Med Health 2014;42;67–75.
Ekpenyong MS. Investigation on the awareness of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in Nigeria. Nurs Palliat Care 2016.
Anaedobe CG, Fowotade A, Omoruyi CE, Bakare RA. Prevalence, socio-demographic features and risk factors of Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Southwestern Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J 2015;20;406.
Charan J, Biswas T. How to calculate sample size for different study designs in medical research? Indian J Psychol Med 2013;35;121–6.
Hou J, Liu Z, Gu F. Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. Int J Med Sci 2005;2;50–7.
Olayinka AT, Oyemakinde A, Balogun MS, Ajudua A, Nguku P, Aderinola M, et al. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection in Nigeria: a national survey. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016;95;902–7.
Musa BM, Bussell S, Borodo MM, Samalia AA, Femi OL. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria, 2000–2013: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Niger J Clin Practice 2015;18;163–72.
Mbaawuaga EM, Enenebeaku MNO, Okopi JA, Damen JG. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among pregnant women in Makurdi, Nigeria. Afr J Biomed Res 2008;11;155–9.
Nongo BH, Agida TE, Oghenebuk U, Yunusa T. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus among antenatal attendees at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Ann Nigerian Med 2016;10;58–62.
Idris A, Isah AY, Ekele BA, Onafowokan O, Thairu Y. Hepatitis B virus vertical transmission in booked pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria. Postgraduate Med J Ghana 2016;5;11–14.
Emmanuel OO, Ifeanyi OT. Seroprevalence of HBsAg/HIV among pregnant women attending state Hospital Antenatal Clinic, Ijebu-Ode. Malaysian J Med Biol Res 2015;200–3.
Rabiu KA, Akinola OI, Adewunmi AA, Omololu OM, Ojo TO. Risk factors for Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2010;8910;1024–8.
Adegbesan-Omilabu MA, Okunade KS, Gbadegesin A, Olowoselu OF, Oluwole AA, Omilabu SA. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women at the antenatal booking clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos Nigeria. Niger J Clin Practice 2015;18;819–23.
Ngaira JA, Kimotho J, Mirigi I, Osman S, Ng’ang’a Z, Lwembe R, et al. Prevalence, awareness and risk factors associated with Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya; 2016.
Franco E, Bagnato B, Marino MG, Meleleo C, Serino L, Zaratti L. Hepatitis B: epidemiology and prevention in developing countries. World J Hepatol 2012;4;74–80.
Yakasai IA, Ayyuba R, Abubakar IS, Ibrahim SA. Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and its risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. J Basic Clin Reprod Sci 2012;1;49–55.
Noubiap J, Nansseu J, Ndoula S, Bigna J, Jingi A, Fokom-Domgue J. Prevalence, infectivity and correlates of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in a rural district of the Far North region of Cameroon; 2015.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).
About this article
Cite this article
Atilola, G., Tomisin, O., Randle, M. et al. Epidemiology of HBV in Pregnant Women, South West Nigeria. J Epidemiol Glob Health 8, 115–123 (2018). https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.09.002
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.09.002