Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Secondary Healthcare Facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study investigates the prevalence of HBV among pregnant women attending antenatal care in secondary healthcare facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Study Design:  Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi between June 2024 and January 2025. Methodology: Total of 720 serum samples of pregnant women attending the health facilities in Nasarawa state were randomly collected and HBV was screened using rapid test kits method. Results: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among the pregnant women was found to be 2.1% (15 cases). The highest prevalence was observed in women aged 16-20 years (8.3%), those who were single (2.9%), and those with no formal education (3.7%). Additionally, higher prevalence rates were noted among women without scarification (2.1%), without a history of vaccination (2.2%), in the first trimester of pregnancy (5.5%), and those who do not consume alcohol (2.2%). No cases of HBV were detected among pregnant women who consumed alcohol or had received the HBV vaccine. Conclusion: The study highlights a low prevalence of HBV among pregnant women, with higher rates in younger, uneducated, and unvaccinated individuals. The findings emphasize the need for increased HBV screening, vaccination, and education to reduce the risk, particularly among high-risk groups.