Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus among antenatal clinic attendees in Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus disease is a potentially life-threatening liver infection and a major global health problem. Hepatitis B infection is associated with the risk of death arising from cirrhosis, liver and non-liver cancers [1]. Transmission of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) results from exposure to contaminated blood or body fluids, unprotected sexual contact with an infected person, blood transfusion, use of contaminated needles, syringes, and sharps as well as vertical transmission from mother to child. There is risk of HBV transmission to the newborn delivered by a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive woman. This risk is amplified with positivity of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) [2].

Globally, WHO estimates that in 2015, 257 million persons, or 3.5% of the population, were living with chronic HBV infection. The African and Western Pacific regions accounted for 68% of those infected. In Nigeria, the National Program on Immunization (NPI) which targets the infants, started in 1998. Hepatitis B vaccine coverage for infants were 50.6% for first dose, 45.6% second dose and 38.2% for third dose [3]. In Bauchi State the vaccination coverage ranges from 25.4% for first dose, 18.9% second dose and 12.5% for third dose [3]. The third dose of Pentavalent vaccine coverage among children has increased from 12.5% in 2013 to 32.1% in 2018 [3, 4].

Several authors have reported on the prevalence of HBV among sub-populations worldwide with estimates varying depending on population studied and methods used. Reported prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women varies from one region to another. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was estimated to be 3.5% among women of reproductive age globally [5]. In African countries the prevalence ranges within 6–25% [5]. A national survey of hepatitis B in Nigeria showed prevalence of 12.2% among the general population [6], a systematic review of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in Nigeria found a prevalence of 14.1% [7]. HBsAg prevalence documented among pregnant women in Bayara, Bauchi State was 17.2% [8].

Many authors report on the prevalence of HBV among sub-populations in Nigeria in secondary and tertiary healthcare settings and usually in urban areas, with estimates varying depending on population studied and methods used. However, there is dearth of reliable data on prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant mothers at primary health care level especially remote areas. Also, despite Nigeria being categorized among countries where HBV infection is highly endemic [9], Gamawa LGA reported zero case of HBV infection to the state surveillance system for five consecutive years (2011–2015). We therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant mothers attending ANC at PHCs of Gamawa LGA.

A total of 210 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 24.5 ± 6.0 years, median age was 24 years (interquartile range 20–28 years). All were married, 87% had no formal education and up to 91% were employed. Overall, 6.7% (3.8–10.7%) tested positive for HBsAg, those older than 35 years had the highest prevalence of 10.5% (1.8–30.6%, Table 1). None was positive among those with tertiary education, and women married before 18 years had 6.5% (3.5–10.7%) prevalence. There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of HBsAg positives and negatives with respect to history of vaccination, blood transfusion, surgery, tonsillectomy, dental procedure, sharing of needles, history of cupping, scarification and episiotomy. There was also no statistically significant difference in the proportion of HBsAg positives and negatives with respect to age, level of education, employment status, husband’s occupation, parity, age at the time of first marriage and number of marital units. (Table 2).

HBV infection affecting pregnant women may result in maternal morbidity and mortality. It could also result in chronic infection in the newborn. Prevalence of hepatitis B infection varies in different parts of the world. Even within the same country there are regional and population specific variations. Immunosuppression in pregnancy is of clinical and epidemiological relevance with regards to hepatitis B viral infection [12]. In this study the overall prevalence of HBsAg among women attending antenatal care services in PHCs in Gamawa LGA was 6.7% indicating an intermediate endemicity. This contrasts with reports by Colin et al [9] that classified Nigeria in the high endemicity group. The finding from our study supports the fact that the prevalence of HBV infection varies widely based on location and subpopulations. The implication of this finding is that pregnant women, even in rural communities, are at high risk of HBV infection, hence the need for HBV screening during antenatal care services. The result from our study is similar to that from a study done by Oluboyo et al [12] and is in agreement with prevalence of 6–25% in the WHO African region. Suffice to note that similar results by all study groups may be linked to identical WHO approved test kits.

The prevalence is lower than a similar study conducted in Bayara hospital, Bauchi State where a prevalence of 17.2% was documented [8]. The difference could be due to the fact that it was conducted in secondary facility situated in urban area. A prevalence of 8.2% was reported also from north eastern Nigeria in FMC Yola, Adamawa State [13]. In the North-Central geopolitical zone, a prevalence of 12.3% was reported from Minna Niger State by Ndams et al [14] and 11.0% was reported in Makurdi, Benue State by Mbaawuaga et al. [15]

In the south-western part of the country, a prevalence of 16.5% was reported in Osogbo, Osun State by Kolawole et al [16] and 8.3% in Ibadan by Chinenye et al. [17] Southern states reported a prevalence of 12.5% in Edo State by Ugbebor et al. [18] It is also lower than the 9.6–18.6% observed by Musa et al [7] in a country wide systematic review. Furthermore, it is lower than the 9.7% found among pregnant women attending ANC in Bue’a Health District [19], 10.2% found by Noubiap et al [20], 20.4% found by Ducancelle [21] et al in Cameroon. It’s also lower than the 9.5% found in Ghana by Ephraim et al [22] and 9.3% found in Kenya by Okoth et al [23]. The differences in the reported seroprevalence rates of HBV among pregnant women may be due to variation in the geographical location, socio-cultural practices, study design, level of care for the study facility, sample size and test methods employed. Most of the studies quoted above were carried out at secondary and tertiary level of care located mostly in urban or semi urban populations but this study was carried out at primary health care setting in rural communities. The lower prevalence of HBV compared to the previous Nigerian studies may be due to increased awareness about the disease [24].

However, the prevalence from our study is higher than the 4.3% found among pregnant women in Zaria, north-western-Nigeria, 5.3% in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; 1.6% found in Iran [25]; 3.9% found in pregnant women attending ANC in Muhimbili national hospital Tanzania [26] and 5.6% in Sudan [27]. It was similar to a prevalence of 6.8% reported in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria [28], and 6.6% in Cross River State [29] southsouth Nigeria. The differences may reflect variations in overall health care status of the study locations. The cost of screening could have accounted for lack of surveillance reports from Gamawa. The cost of screening for HBV in the community was $1.39 per client. The amount is considered high for the average person in the community due to high level of poverty in the rural community. Since they are apparently healthy, it becomes difficult to convince the women to part with the money that would have rather been used for food. Making these screenings free during antenatal visits would help a lot in ensuring that every woman knows her status and take steps to improve her health and protect her unborn baby. PHC facilities hence do not routinely screened for HBV infection.

The prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women in Gamawa LGA was 6.7% which is much lower than the national prevalence of 14.1% among ANC attendees. Women older than 35 years had the highest prevalence of 10% and of the documented associated factors studied, none was found to be associated with HBV infection. We recommended free HBV screening for women attending ANC and more awareness campaigns on hepatitis B virus infection and its consequences especially among pregnant women.