Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria.

Objectives: The study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) positivity among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among the pregnant population in five healthcare facilities in Jos, between November 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. Informed consent was obtained, and data on sociodemographic and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were collected. Hepatitis B viral infection was assessed using the in vitro HBsAg diagnostic rapid kit (Acon Laboratories, USA). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were performed to identify predictors of HBV infection in the study population. All statistical analyses were carried out on STATA version 15. Results: Of the 3,238 women enrolled, 7.4% (241/3238) (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.6% to 8.4%) were HBsAg positive. The absence of HBV vaccination (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.49-4.09; P < 0.001), co-infection with HIV (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI = 1.18-3.08; P = 0.009), and higher parity (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.04-1.79; P = 0.024) were independently associated with HBV infection in pregnancy. Conclusions: The prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women was high, especially among those without prior vaccination for HBV, those with HIV co-infection and higher parity.

RésuméObjectifs: L'étude visait à déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs de risque associés à la positivité à l'antigénémie de surface de l'hépatite B (AgHBs) chez les femmes enceintes à Jos, Nigéria. Méthodologie: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale réalisée auprès de la population enceinte dans cinq dans les établissements de santé de Jos, entre le 1er novembre 2017 et le 30 avril 2018. Un consentement éclairé a été obtenu et des données sociodémographiques et des facteurs de risque d'infection par le virus de l'hépatite B (VHB) ont été collectés. L'infection virale de l'hépatite B a été évaluée à l'aide du diagnostic in vitro de l'HBsAg kit rapide (Acon Laboratories, USA). Des statistiques descriptives, un test du chi carré et une régression logistique ont été effectués pour identifier les prédicteurs de Infection par le VHB dans la population étudiée. Toutes les analyses statistiques ont été effectuées sur STATA version 15. Résultats: Sur les 3 238 femmes inscrites, 7,4% (241/3238) (intervalle de confiance à 95% [IC] = 6,6% à 8,4%) étaient positifs pour l'AgHBs. L'absence de vaccination contre le VHB (cotes ajustées rapport [AOR] = 2,49; IC à 95% = 1,49­4,09; P <0,001), co-infection par le VIH (AOR = 1,90; IC à 95% = 1,18­3,08; P = 0,009) et plus la parité (AOR = 1,37; IC à 95% = 1,04-1,79; P = 0,024) était indépendamment associée à l'infection par le VHB pendant la grossesse. Conclusions: le la prévalence de l'infection par le VHB était élevée chez les femmes enceintes, en particulier chez celles qui n'avaient pas été vaccinées contre le VHB, celles avec le VIH co-infection et parité plus élevée.

Profile of congenital heart disease in infants born following exposure to preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Events in pregnancy play an important role in predisposing the newborn to the risk of developing CHD. This study evaluated the association between maternal preeclampsia and her offspring risk of CHD. METHODS: This is a cohort study of 90 sex-matched neonates (45 each born to women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy) in Jos, Nigeria. Anthropometry was taken shortly after delivery using standard protocols. Echocardiography was performed within 24 hours of life and repeated 7 and 28 days later. SPSS version 25 was used in all analyses. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Congenital heart disease (CHD) was observed in 27 (30.0%) of newborns of women with preeclampsia compared with 11 (12.1%) of newborns without preeclampsia (p<0.001) at the end of 7 days and in 19 (21.1%) of newborns of women with preeclampsia and 3 (3.3%) of newborns of women without preeclampsia by the end of the 4th week of life (p<0.001). Overall, ASD (4 newborns), PDA (21 newborns), patent foramen ovale (14 newborns) and VSD (2 newborns) were the prevalent lesions found among all the newborns studied in the first week of life. Isolated atrial and ventricular septal defects were seen in 4 (4.4%) of the newborns of women with preeclampsia. Being the infant of a woman with preeclampsia was associated with about 8-fold increased risk of having CHD (OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 2.5-24.9, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: CHD may be more common in newborns of women with preeclampsia underscoring the need for fetal and newborn screening for CHD in women with preeclampsia so as to improve their infant's well being.