Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus is a serious global health threat, particularly in endemic regions like Ethiopia, where mother-to-child transmission is common. However, there is limited information on pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HBV. This research aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of pregnant women attending antenatal care in public hospitals in Afar, Ethiopia, concerning HBV infection.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five public hospitals in the Afar region, Eastern Ethiopia, from August 2023 to April 2024. The study targeted pregnant women attending antenatal care. Data were collected through in-person interviews using a pretested structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software. Associations were assessed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions, with a P-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 442 participants, 10.4% (95% CI = 7.7-13.6), 19.2% (95% CI = 15.7-23.2), and 17% (95% CI = 13.6-20.8) demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices regarding HBV, respectively. Higher education (AOR=10.83, 95% CI: 3.97-29.6) was significantly linked to better knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Urban residence (AOR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.02-4.08) was associated with good knowledge and attitudes, while high income (AOR=5.16, 95% CI: 1.49-17.9) was strongly related to good knowledge. Conversely, small family size (AOR=0.428, 95% CI: 0.195-0.942) was associated with poorer practices.
Conclusion: Pregnant women in Afar exhibit low knowledge, poor practices, and negative attitudes towards HBV. Implementing comprehensive HBV screening and health education campaigns is essential to enhance this population's awareness and understanding of HBV infection.