Abstract:

Viral hepatitis encompasses liver inflammation caused by hepatotropic viruses, including hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The global prevalence of hepatitis B infection surpasses 300 million people. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to this infection, which significantly impacts maternal and child health. Limited knowledge and inadequate surveillance programs in Nigeria contribute to underestimating the prevalence rate. This study aims to assess the prevalence and knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collection involved self-administered semi-structured questionnaires, and analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Findings revealed that approximately 69.9% of the study respondents possessed good knowledge regarding hepatitis B infection. The prevalence of hepatitis B infection among respondents was 9.6%. Notable associations were observed between occupation, religion, parity, history of multiple sexual partners, knowledge, and the prevalence of hepatitis B infection. While most respondents exhibited commendable knowledge and surprisingly low prevalence rates within the facility, the government must enhance knowledge dissemination and increase accessibility to vaccinations. The occurrence of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma are most time linked to Hepatitis B infection, however, most individuals are not aware of this. This study will help increase awareness of the causes and benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of the infection in other to prevent the life-threatening complications associated with it. It will help reduce the infection through policy and implementation of preventive strategies.

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