Burden of hepatitis B surface antigen sero-prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at a public health institution, southern Ethiopia, 2018: implications for public health prevention

Introduction
Globally, more than 257 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa and Asia. The nationwide disease burden of chronic HBV in Ethiopia is estimated to be approximately 8%. Thus, determining the factors associated with HBsAg seroprevalence in different geographical settings and in different population sub-groups is paramount in designing appropriate preventative measures. Aim of the research: To identity the burden of hepatitis B surface antigen sero-prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women.

Material and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinka Hospital among pregnant mothers. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered by an interviewer and used to collect the data. Serum was obtained from each study subject and used to test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test kit. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to determine the degree of association.

Results
The HBsAg seroprevalence was nine percent. Scarification (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.43, 95% CI: 1.77–11.06), having multiple sexual partners (AOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 1.66–13.29), and having a sexually transmitted infection in the past (AOR = 5.57, 95% CI: 2.35–13.17) were significantly associated with HBsAg seroprevalence.

Conclusions
The HBsAg seroprevalence among pregnant women was high according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria. The study identified different factors associated with HBsAg seroprevalence. A properly designed intervention strategy that will lead to reduction of HBsAg seroprevalence, including routine screenings and vaccinations, is warranted.