Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Grace Rinmecit Pennap
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA
Pregnant women infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) represent a major reservoir of the virus in the community. Th e aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a serological marker for the viral infection among pregnant women in Keffi and its environs. An immunochromatographic test kit (Clinotech diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals Canada) designed for the qualitative detection of HBsAg in serum was used to screen for the virus among 180 pregnant women. All positive samples were confi rmed with HBsAg ELISA kit ( Globamed, South Africa (PTY) Cape Town). Th e overall seroprevalence of HBsAg in the study population was 6.67%. Although HBsAg was detected at a higher rate among pregnant women aged 40-44 than in any other age group, the diff erence was not statistically signifi cant (p > 0.05). Similarly, those who were illiterate, unmarried, multiparous, have had a surgery, blood transfusion or had facial marks, had higher prevalence rates, although statistically insignifi cant (P > 0.5).Th e HBsAg prevalence in this study was high. Th erefore, all pregnant women in Nigeria should be screened for HBV during antenatal rather doing it based on risk factors. Children born to HBsAg positive mothers should be given the required prophylaxis.
Grace Rinmecit Pennap holds a PhD from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in Public Health And Preventive Medicine. She is a senior lecturer in Microbiology at Nasarawa State University Keffi . She has published more than 20 papers in both local and international journals. Her main research area is viral epidemiology.