Prevalence, Awareness and Socio-demographic Determinants of Hepatitis B Infection among Antenatal Women in Southeast Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it contributes substantially to maternal and neonatal morbidity. There is an increased risk of vertical transmission and other adverse events from HBV infection during pregnancy. This study assessed the prevalence, awareness, and sociodemographic factors associated with HBV infection among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Onitsha, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 125 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha. Sociodemographic data and information on HBV awareness were collected using structured questionnaires. Venous blood samples were analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using ELISA. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV infection was 1.6% (2/125). Positive cases were identified among women aged 30–39 years, all of whom were married and had tertiary education. Infection occurred only in the third trimester and among women with higher parity. However, no statistically significant association was found between HBV infection and sociodemographic or obstetric variables (p > 0.05). Although 65.6% of participants had knowledge of HBV, awareness of vertical transmission (40.8%), preventive measures (33.6%), and treatment options (28%) was low. Conclusion: HBV prevalence in this study was 1.6%, supporting the need for routine HBV screening in pregnant women. However, awareness remains limited (including vertical transmission, prevention, and treatment). Therefore, the findings highlight the importance of continued routine HBV screening and improved awareness among pregnant women.