Seroprevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections among pregnant women in the Asante Akim North Municipality of the Ashanti region, Ghana; a cross sectional study.
Afr Health Sci
; 15(3): 709-13, 2015 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26957956
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Viral hepatitis is a serious public health problem affecting billions of people globally with maternal-fetal transmission on the rise.OBJECTIVES:
This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among pregnant women in the Asante Akim North Municipality, in the Ashanti region of Ghana.METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study 168 pregnant women were recruited from the Agogo Presbyterian hospital. Blood samples were collected for the detection of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data and identify the risk factors associated with the two infections.RESULTS:
Of the 168 participants studied, 16 (9.5%) tested positive for HBV and 13 (7.7%) tested positive for HCV representing 9.5% and 7.7% respectively. A participant tested positive for both HBV and HCV co-infection representing 0.6%. Undertaking blood transfusion, tattooing and sharing of needles were associated with hepatitis C infection (P=0.001). HBV was not associated with any of the risk factors (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:
Our findings suggest a high prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among pregnant women; blood transfusion, tattooing and sharing of hypodermic needles were associated with hepatitis C infection. Measures to reduce the disease and transmission burden must be introduced.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez
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Hepatite C
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Coinfecção
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Hepatite B
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article