Sero-prevalence of Viral Hepatitis B and C infection and associated factors among Pregnant Women in Southeast Ethiopia: Community-based crossectional study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection and associated factors among pregnant women in Robe town, Southeast Ethiopia, from March 2022 to May 2022. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women. from March to May 2022. Study participants were approached using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire, and three-milliliter blood samples were collected and tested for HBsAgn and Anti-HCV Antibodies. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the occurrence of Hepatitis B and C viruses among pregnant women. Accordingly, from multivariable logistic regression, adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were computed. Those variables with p-value <0.05 were declared as a factor associated with the dependent variable. RESULTS: A total of 410 pregnant women participated in the study, with a response rate of 97.15%. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections was found to be 7.6% (95CI: 5.1-10.2) and 2.2 %(95%CI: 1-3.7), respectively, whereas one (0.24%) women were co-infected. Having a history of dental extraction (AOR =2.70, 95% CI 1.09, 6.69), hospital admission (AOR= 6.96, 95%CI 1.73, 27.99), household contact (AOR=3.93, 95% CI 1.37, 11.25), tattooing (AOR= 3.50 95% CI 2.31, 12.35), sexually transmitted infection (AOR=11.42 95% CI 3.10, 42.35) were significantly associated with HBsAgn infection whereas having a history of blood transfusion (AOR 5.58, 95% CI 1.03, 30.05, P= 0.045) and household Contact (AOR 7.49, 95% CI 1.34, 41.76) were significantly associated with HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The Seroprevalence of 7.6% of HBV and 2.2% of HCV was moderate endemicity according to WHO classification. History of dental extraction, hospital admission, household contact, tattooing, and sexually transmitted diseases, blood transfusion plays a great role in the transmission of viral hepatitis.