HEPATITIS B KNOWLEDGE, SCREENING, VACCINATION, AND INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN NASARAWA STATE NIGERIA

Samuel E. Emiasegen*, Grace R. Pennap, Moses P. Adoga

Background: Inadequate knowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV), limited screening and incomplete vaccination can sustain mother-to-child transmission in high-endemicity settings. This study assessed HBV-related knowledge and preventive practices and their associations with HBV infection among pregnant women attending primary health-care facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study enrolled 338 pregnant women from one primary health-care facility in each of the three senatorial zones between September and November 2024. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaires captured HBV awareness, screening, vaccination and selected clinical or exposure histories. HBV infection status was analysed against these variables. Prevalence was reported with an exact 95% confidence interval (CI). Associations were evaluated using Pearson chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate, and crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Twenty-eight participants were HBV-positive, giving a prevalence of 8.3% (95% CI: 5.6–11.8%). Most had heard of HBV (88.8%), had received HBV sensitization during antenatal care (94.7%) and had been screened during the current antenatal visit (94.4%); however, only 27.2% reported HBV vaccination and 56.5% of vaccinated women had received three doses. HBV positivity was substantially higher among women who did not know their HBV status than among those who did (29.6% versus 1.6%; OR = 26.63, 95% CI: 8.89–79.75; χ² = 63.89; p < 0.001). Body marks or tattoos were also associated with infection (13.5% versus 6.4%; OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.03–5.01; χ² = 4.30; p = 0.038). Conclusion: General HBV awareness and antenatal sensitization were high, but vaccination uptake remained low. Not knowing one’s HBV status and having body marks or tattoos were associated with HBV positivity. Antenatal services should link universal screening with result counselling, completion of vaccination among eligible women and risk-reduction education.