Logo image
Back
Factors associated with HBsAg seropositivity among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at 10 community health centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Factors associated with HBsAg seropositivity among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at 10 community health centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study

Manal Ghazzawi, Peter B James, Samuel P Massaquoi, Sahr A Yendewa, Robert A Salata and George A Yendewa
Pathogens , Vol.11(2), 243
12/02/2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020243
pdf
Factors associated with HBsAg seropositivity among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at 10 community health centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study463.51 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
url
Factors associated with HBsAg seropositivity among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at 10 community health centers in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional studyView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Related links

Metrics

2 File views/ downloads
40 Record Views
8 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Abstract

hepatitis B infection pregnancy antenatal screening Sierra Leone Public health not elsewhere classified Epidemiology not elsewhere classified Infectious diseases Health surveillance Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response) Women's and maternal health
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a major public health threat in Sierra Leone. Pregnant women are disproportionately impacted, yet little is known about the epidemiology of HBV in this group. We conducted a cross-sectional study of pregnant women aged ≥16 years receiving antenatal care across 10 community health centers in Freetown from July to September 2021 to assess the prevalence and associated factors of HBsAg seropositivity. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of HBsAg seropositivity. In total, 394 pregnant women were screened. The mean age was 24.4 ± 4.9 years, 78.2% were married, and 47.2% were in the second trimester. Only 1% had received the HBV vaccine. The prevalence of HBsAg was 7.9%, while HIV was 5.8% and HIV/HBV co-infection was 0.3%. Regarding high-risk practices, 76.6% reported female genital circumcision, 41.9% ear piercing, 29.0% endorsed multiple sexual partners, and 23.6% reported sexually transmitted infections. In the logistic regression analysis, having a husband/partner with HBV (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 6.54; 95% CI: [1.72–24.86]; p = 0.006) and residing in Central Freetown (aOR: 4.00; 95% CI: [1.46–11.00]; p = 0.007) were independently associated with HBsAg seropositivity. Our findings support the scaling up of HBV services to target pregnant women and their partners for screening and vaccination to help reduce mother-to-child transmission rates in Sierra Leone

Details

Logo image