Hepatitis B Infection among Parturient Women in Peri-Urban Ghana

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Dec;99(6):1469-1474. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0752.

Abstract

Global evidence suggests that hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection is endemic in Africa and perinatal transmission remains one of the most important modes of HBV transmission in this area. This cross-sectional survey examined the seroprevalence and knowledge of hepatitis B among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) in a mission hospital in Ghana. Systematic sampling technique was used to recruit 196 pregnant women. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05 alpha level. The hepatitis B prevalence estimate (hepatitis B surface antigen) was 10.2% (N = 20) and all of the participants were aware of HBV infection. Majority cited media (radio) as their main source of information. Approximately 86% of the participants (N = 168) associated HBV infection with a curse and 88.8% (N = 174) indicated witches and wizards as possible causes of the infection. Those with higher level of school education had high hepatitis B knowledge score (P < 0.01). Implementation of a health education program on the route of hepatitis B transmission is required in the study setting. Also, inclusion of hepatitis B education as part of ANC activities will enable HBV-positive pregnant women to appreciate the need for hepatitis B vaccination of their newborns at birth.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Endemic Diseases / prevention & control
  • Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Ghana / epidemiology
  • Health Education / organization & administration
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hepatitis B / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Hepatitis B virus / growth & development
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / statistics & numerical data
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parturition
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • Prejudice
  • Prenatal Care
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines