Seroprevalences and Associated Factors of Viral Infections (HIV, Hepatitis B and C) among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at the Yaoundé Central Hospital

Abstract

Aims: A viral infection is a proliferation of a harmful virus inside the body. HIV infection, viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) constitute a public health problem. They affect millions of people worldwide and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and sometimes share common modes of transmission, among which vertical transmission. The objective of this study was to assess seroprevalences and associated factors of these infections among pregnant women.  Study Design: We carried out a cross-sectional and analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Antenatal care clinic (ANC) of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit,   at the Yaoundé Central Hospital (Cameroon) from 1st January to 30th June 2016. Methodology: We consecutively enrolled 360 women attending ANC. Blood samples were collected to screen for HIVAb, HBsAg and HCVAb through rapid diagnostic tests, and confirmed at the “Centre Pasteur” laboratory of Cameroon. Data were processed using Excel 2007, EpiData Analysis Version 3.2 and STATA version 12.0 (Texas USA 2001) softwares. Odds ratios were used to assess strength of the association between variables. Statistical significance was accepted for P value less than 0.05. Results: The mean age was 27.99 +/- 5.63 years, ranging from 15 and 47 years. The prevalence of HIVAb, HBsAg and HCVAb were 13.1% (n = 47), 9.4% (n = 34) and 1.7% (n = 6) respectively. We had 1.4% and 0.6% of HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co-infections respectively. Independent risk factors associated with HIV were: the level of primary study (OR: 7.97; 95% CI = 2.23 - 28.49; P = 0.001) and multiple sexual partners (OR: 4 79; 95% CI = 1.79 - 12.79, P = 0.002). Multiple sexual partners was the Independent risk factor associated with HBsAg (OR: 11.62; 95% CI = 5.057 - 26.731; P = <0.001). No factor was associated with HCVAb.                                                                                         Conclusion: Increased awareness, promotion of screening and / or treatment of infections and immunization against HBV in the general population, and in women of childbearing age in particular, would reduce their impact and therefore prevent their horizontal and vertical transmission.