Determinants of Hepatitis B Virus infection Acquisition among Apparently Healthy Pregnant Women Attending RCH Clinics in Ifakara, Tanzania
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Introduction
Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections remain major global public health concerns, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy, these infections are associated with adverse outcomes, including gestational diabetes, preterm labor, and low birth weight. Despite the availability of effective vaccines and antiviral therapy, awareness of HBV and HCV status among pregnant women in resource-limited settings remains low. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with HBV infections among pregnant women attending reproductive and child health (RCH) clinics at a tertiary health facility.
Methodology and Results
A cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling to select 385 pregnant women. Data were collected using structured checklists and analyzed with SPSS. The majority of participants (66.2%) were aged 18–29, with most being married (63.9%). Nearly half (48.3%) were self-employed, and 46.2% had attained at least secondary education. Medical and behavioral risk factors were common: 55.3% reported a history of hospital admission, 34.5% had undergone surgery, and 29.9% had received blood transfusions. Additionally, 41.6% had tattoos or body piercings, and 70.7% reported having multiple sexual partners. Other notable findings included a history of sexually transmitted infections (25.7%), intravenous drug use (7.8%), and HIV positivity (14.3%). Despite these risk factors, only 0.52% reported a prior diagnosis of hepatitis C.
Conclusion
The findings emphasize the need for routine HBV and HCV screening in antenatal care, particularly for high-risk groups. Strengthening infection prevention, raising awareness, and integrating HBV and HCV testing into maternal health services could reduce transmission. Given the high prenatal care attendance (88.3%), policy changes supporting comprehensive screening and education
