Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the leading causes of liver diseases which occurs worldwide particularly in developing countries. It is often caused by prenatal transmission from mother to child or household transmission from a close contact during early childhood. It causes different complications like; jaundice, induces premature labor, and prematurity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Bench Maji Zone, South West Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15th, 2016 to February 15th, 2017. Multistage sampling technique was applied to select study participants. Logistic regression analysis was applied and p-values < 0.05 was used to see the significant association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: A total of 330 participants were included in this study yielding 98.8% response rate. The sero-prevalence of HBsAg among women of reproductive age was 28(8.5%). Having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 18.73, 95% CI =3.65, 96.21) history of unprotected sex (AOR = 9.39, 95% CI =1.64, 53.77) were found to be significantly associated with sero-prevalence of HBV. CONCLUSIONS: The sero-prevalence of HBV infection among women of reproductive age was highly endemic. Hence, behavioral education and communication programs focusing on reduction of risky sexual behaviors should be designed to reduce HBV infection.