Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus among pregnant women attending state specialist hospital Maiduguri

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among pregnant women was determined using Acon HBsAg in vitro diagnostic kit. Of the one hundred and eight (108) pregnant women tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) only 7(6.5%) were positive. Higher prevalence of HBV was recorded among pregnant women between age group 20-24years 3(8.3%), followed by 30-34years 2(7.4%), 25-29year and 35-39years with the prevalence of 1(4.8%) and 1(12.5%) respectively. HBV among pregnant women based on educational status showed that out of 108 pregnant women, only 47(43.5%) were undergone formal education while 61(56.5%) have not undergone formal education. High prevalence was recorded among those that have not undergone formal education 4(6.6%) than their counterp art with formal education 3(6.4%), although, no statistical significant difference was recorded between the educational status of the studied population and the prevalence of the HBV infection(X squared= 0.1279, df= 1, p-value= 0.7206). Also other variable such gravidity, trimester and history of blood transfusion were observed in this study, none of this variable was found to be risk factor acquiring HBV infection (P>0.05). This shows that Hepatitis B virus is endemic in pregnant women and evidence of this virus among pregnant women, indicating high risk of vertical transmission.