Prevalence of HBV Infection among parturients in Lower mulago.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem with 5% of the world population being chronic carriers. Parts of Africa including Uganda have a higher carrier rate of 10-15%. The causative agent, the Hepatitis B Virus, is transmitted by contact with blood and its products, by sexual contact with infected persons and vertical transmission. The seroprevalent of HBV among parturients attending lower mulago is not known. Among the populations at risk are the health care workers attending to labouring mothers, the new born infants, as well as other mothers in labour. STATEMENT OF THE POPULATION: Hepatitis B virus infection (presence of HBV markers in blood) is a public health problem, the sero-prevalence among parturients in Lower mulago is not known despite the high risk of transmission during labour. STUDY OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HBV in lower mulago hospital. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: 202mothers who delivered in lower mulago hospital between January to February 2007 and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were studied. Socio-demographic characteristics, pattern of selected medical characteristics and selected risk factors were explored. A blood sample for HBV testing was collected from each. RESULTS: Maternal HBsAg seropasitivity was 1.98%, Anti-HBc positivity was 29% and HBeAg was 0.99%. CONCLUSION: These results show a high prevalence of HBV infection among parturients in Lower Mulago, with 1.98% having active infection, 0.99% being infective and 29% of those tested showed past infection with HBV.