Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Public Health Facilities in Jigjiga Town, Eastern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major global public health problem affecting millions of people across the world. The risk of developing a chronic hepatitis B virus infection is affected by the age at the time of acquiring infection. For instance, around 95% of these infections are acquired during the perinatal period. Although evidences indicate the wider effects of hepatitis B virus and its negative consequences, there are limited studies and a scarcity of data in Eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining seroprevalence of HBV and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in the public health facilities of Jigjiga town, Eastern Ethiopia, from March 4 to April 4, 2019. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among pregnant women in the public health facilities of Jigjiga town, Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 589 pregnant women were enrolled in the study using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. Five milliliters of venous blood samples was collected and tested for HBV using ELISA diagnostic test. The collected data were entered in to Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics was carried out using frequency tables and summary measures. Multivariable analysis was done to identify the true effects of the selected predictor variables on the outcome variable after controlling for possible confounders. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. RESULTS: Overall, 8.5% (95% CI: 6.5–10.7) of the study participants were seropositive for HBsAg. Having any surgical history [AOR = 3.41, 95% CI (1.26–9.24)], family history of HBV [AOR = 4.96, 95% CI (2.11–10.60)], history of sharing sharps [AOR = 2.78, 95% CI (1.13–6.83)] and having multiple sexual partners [AOR = 6.12, 95% CI (2.12–17.64)] were significant predictors of HBV infection. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of HBV was relatively high in this study area. Having a history of surgery, family history of hepatitis, history of sharing sharps and multiple sexual partners were significantly associated with HBV infection. Therefore, health information dissemination and awareness creation on mode of transmission of HBV are very crucial.