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MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B IN JOS METROPOLIS
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health issue worldwide and more seriously in Africa and Asia3. In Jos, like in the most parts of Nigeria, information on mother –to- child transmission of HBV is scarce. This study was undertaken to determine the mother- to- child transmission of hepatitis B markers at delivery.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)in maternal blood and that of cord blood at delivery at JUTH .To determine the proportion of HBsAg positive to Hepatitis B core antigen (HBeAg) positive on maternal blood and also determine proportion of HBsAg positive to HBeAg positive on the cord blood.
METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional study
RESULT: The results of the study showed that the prevalence of HBsAg among women at delivery in Jos metropolis is 12.77% while that of cord blood is 2.2%. A study finding that is a cause for concern. Also, the proportion of HBsAg to HBeAg among women at delivery is 23:3. This implied that 13.04% of those that are HBsAg positive were infectious and the association was statistically significant. There was no HBeAg positivity in all the 4 cord blood that were HBsAg positive.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: From this study, the prevalence rate for hepatitis B virus infection in Jos is high. Following this findings, the following recommendations are proffered: That routine screening for HBsAg on all pregnant women be introduced at the booking clinic as a policy in Jos metropolis. Government should make arrangement for mass immunization of all hepatitis B surface antigen negative women in the reproductive age group. In addition, government and non-governmental agencies should intensify efforts to enlighten the public in general and those within the reproductive age group in particular of the public health importance of the disease. Abstinence, faithfulness, consistent and correct use of condom as ways of primary prevention of the disease should be emphasized through various forms of public enlightenment. A larger multicentre study design to follow up babies born to mothers that are HBsAg for 6 and 12 months is also recommended so as to ascertain both horizontal and vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus.
