TITLE:
Correlates of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Antenatal Clinic Attendees of Volta Regional Hospital, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
AUTHORS:
Joseph Otoo, Paschal Kofi Dah, Ernest Yeboah Boateng, Daniel A. Abaye
KEYWORDS:
Binomial Logistic Regression, Hepatitis B Virus Infection, Antenatal Clinic Attendees
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
24,
2019
ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health problem. With
about 380 million chronic carriers of the HBV virus, there are over two million
global deaths annually. Ghana is among the high endemic countries in Africa,
with HBV prevalence ranging from 4.8% to 12.3% in the general population, 10.8%
to 12.7% in blood donors and about 10.6% in antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees.
The main objectives of this study were to test how socioeconomic factors, risky
behaviors, knowledge and awareness of HBV infection correlate with actual HBV
status among antenatal clinic attendees and to determine the predictors of HBV
testing among ANC attendees. The study employed
random sampling technique to sample 500 pregnant women, at mothers’ clinic of Volta Regional Hospital, Ho, Ghana. A structured questionnaire was
used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, Hepatitis B
status, possible risk factors, awareness and knowledge levels of HBV infection. Cross tabulation and the chi-square (χ2)
statistic were used to determine statistical independence or association of
study variables. Kruskal-Wallis test
was applied to test for the differences in HBV knowledge scores across HBV
status and levels of HBV awareness; and the binomial regression model was used
to determine the predictors of HBV testing among ANC attendees. It is evident
that age, religion, ethnicity, educational level, blood transfusion, number of
blood transfusions, gravidity, parity, awareness of HBV and monthly income were
associated with HBV status. Results of the Binomial Logistic Regression model
indicate that Age (p = 0.03),
Education level (p = 0.04), Religion
(p = 0.04), Ethnicity (p = 0.00) and Blood transfusion (p = 0.04) were significant (p 0.05)
predictors of HBV testing. Knowledge of HBV status enables patients to seek
early treatment, facilitates referral for social support and counseling. We recommend that the Ministry of Health
should carry effective education on HBV and its prevention for women of
child-bearing age.