Yasin Awol Wabe*, Dawit Yihdego Reda and Musa Mohammed Ali
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem, even though its prevalence is disproportionately high in low- and middleincome countries. Mother-to-child transmission is a major route of HBV transmission in endemic areas. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HBV, Syphilis and their determinant among pregnant women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2019 in 290 pregnant women at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Gestational and socioeconomic data were collected using a questionnaire. Serum Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody against syphilis infection was tested using a rapid diagnostic test. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to identify the independent risk factors of HBV and syphilis serostatus at p-value of < 0.05.
Results: Two hundred ninety of the total 300 pregnant women participated in the study resulting in a response rate of 96.7%. Seroprevalence of HBV and syphilis infection were found to be 4.5 % and 2.4 % respectively. Having multiple sexual partner [AOR=3.99, 95%Cl= 1.20-13.38, p=0.025] was significantly associated with Hepatitis B virus infection. Conclusion: An intermediate seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus was detected among participants in our study area. Having multiple sexual partners was found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of HBV infection. Therefore; implementing strategies for routine screening of women for HBV and syphilis during antenatal care would be critical.
