Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (Obsag) in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at The General Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Volume 2 - Issue 1

Effiong Edet Bassey* and Ebere I Okoye

Received: September 10, 2018;   Published: September 19, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/IPDOAJ.2018.02.000129

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Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at General Hospital in Agba, Ekwulobia, Anambra State. Two hundred pregnant women who consented voluntarily after thorough explanation of the purpose of the study were recruited for this study. The samples were tested for the presence of antibodies using rapid Dia Spot HBsAg rapid test strip developed by Dia Spot Diagnostics, USA and ClinotechHBsAg (Clinotech diagnostics, Richmond, Canada). Analysis of the result showed that 23(11.5%) of the pregnant women had HBsAg. Statistical analysis, however, showed no significant difference between the prevalence and the age of patients, parity, trimester and type of family. The frequency of HBY carriers did not vary significantly with the Use of condoms and contraceptives. However, there was a significant frequency variation in the distribution of HBsAg between those that have previous history of transfusion, operation, circumcision and those who never had history of operation, transfusion or circumcision Therefore, the need to institute public health measures to reduce disease burden and transmission, including routine screening of all pregnant mothers for HBV infection and early passive-active immunization of babies born to HBsAg-positive mothers are advocated.

Abstract| Introduction| Materials and Methods| Results| Discussion| Conclusion and Recommendation| References|