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Background: Hepatitis B and C are potentially life-threatening liver infections and major public health challenge affecting 350 million people with approximately annual deaths of 1.4 million. Objective: Determine the knowledge and investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV among commercial mini-bus drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methodology: Descriptive, cross-sectional design using quantitative strategy. Multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 110 respondents. An adapted questionnaire from two previous studies was used for participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge level of Hepatitis B and C, risk factors and vaccination hesitancy while laboratory investigations were used for HBV and HCV prevalence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Findings revealed that one-third (32.7%) of the respondents were between 39-48 years. Majority (73.6%) were married with 39.1% having at least two sexual partners. Majority (80%) have heard of HBV while 75% have never heard of HCV, 43.6% and 59.1% have poor knowledge level of hepatitis B and C. The prevalence of HBV and anti-HCV among the respondents were 7.3% and 1% respectively. Major risk factors identified were tattooing, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex. There was a significant relationship between respondents' knowledge of hepatitis B and age (X2 =21.39, p=0.006) and number of sexual partners (X2=21.25, p= 0.002) while only educational background (X2=13.58, p= 0.035) was significantly associated with the knowledge level of hepatitis C. Conclusion: Hence, purposeful efforts on awareness and prevention programs for HBV and HCV should be made by nurses, other healthcare professionals and all other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The screening for infection diseases in pregnancy by laboratory tests can reduce the risk of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of vertically transmitted infections: toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, for the period November 2013 to May 2014. Descriptive study, the sample consisted of 175 pregnant women between 14 to 43 years, women who were discarded for Toxoplasmosis, Reaginic Antibodies by qualitative VDRL, HIV, hepatitis B (Anti-HBsAg Anti-HBsAg, anti-Core); hepatitis C (Total antibodies), through ultramicroELISA (UMELISA). The results showed 27.4% positive for Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, with 31.2% of these pregnant women having antibody titers of 1/512. Anti-HIV antibodies were positive by 0.6%. 99.4% showed Nonreactive VDRL. 38.9% were positive for antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen, the markers HBsAg and anti-Core were negative by 100%; 1.7% were positive for total antibodies against Hepatitis C. It is concluded that the screening of infectious diseases that represent risk factors for vertically transmission infections during pregnancy, is one of the most appropriate tools to diagnose these diseases and prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Resumen: El despistaje de infecciones mediante pruebas de laboratorio permite disminuir el riesgo de morbimortalidad perinatales y maternas. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar la presencia de infecciones de transmisión vertical: toxoplasmosis, VIH, sífilis, Hepatitis B y C, durante el periodo noviembre 2013 a mayo 2014. Estudio descriptivo, muestra conformada por 175 embarazadas entre 14 a 43 años, a las cuales se les descarto Toxoplasmosis, Anticuerpos Reagínicos por VDRL cualitativa, VIH, hepatitis B (Anti-HBsAg, HBsAg, anti-Core); hepatitis C (Anticuerpos totales), a través de ultramicroELISA (UMELISA). Los resultados arrojaron Anticuerpos Anti-Toxoplasma gondii positivas en 27,4%, donde el 31,2% de estas embarazadas presentaron títulos de anticuerpos de 1/512. Los Anticuerpos Anti-VIH resultaron positivos en 0,6%. El 99,4% mostraron un VDRL No Reactivo. El 38,9% tuvo un resultado positivo para anticuerpos contra el antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B, los marcadores HBsAg y Anti-Core resultaron negativos en un 100%; el 1,7% fue positivo para anticuerpos totales contra el virus de la Hepatitis C. Se concluye que el despistaje de enfermedades infecciosas que representan factores de riesgo de transmisión vertical en embarazadas, constituye uno de los medios más oportuno para diagnosticar estas patologías y prevenir la morbimortalidad materna e infantil.

The screening for infection diseases in pregnancy by laboratory tests can reduce the risk of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of vertically transmitted infections: toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, for the period November 2013 to May 2014. Descriptive study, the sample consisted of 175 pregnant women between 14 to 43 years, women who were discarded for Toxoplasmosis, Reaginic Antibodies by qualitative VDRL, HIV, hepatitis B (Anti-HBsAg Anti-HBsAg, anti-Core); hepatitis C (Total antibodies), through ultramicroELISA (UMELISA). The results showed 27.4% positive for Anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, with 31.2% of these pregnant women having antibody titers of 1/512. Anti-HIV antibodies were positive by 0.6%. 99.4% showed Nonreactive VDRL. 38.9% were positive for antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen, the markers HBsAg and anti-Core were negative by 100%; 1.7% were positive for total antibodies against Hepatitis C. It is concluded that the screening of infectious diseases that represent risk factors for vertically transmission infections during pregnancy, is one of the most appropriate tools to diagnose these diseases and prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.

The screening for infection diseases in pregnancy by laboratory tests can reduce the risk of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of vertically transmitted infections: toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, for the period November 2013 to May 2014. Descriptive study, the sample consisted of 175 pregnant women between 14 to 43 years, women who were discarded for Toxoplasmosis, Reaginic Antibodies by qualitative VDRL, HIV, hepatitis B (Anti-HBsAg Anti-HBsAg, anti-Core); hepatitis C (Total antibodies), through ultramicroELISA (UMELISA). The results showed 27.4% positive for Anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, with 31.2% of these pregnant women having antibody titers of 1/512. Anti-HIV antibodies were positive by 0.6%. 99.4% showed Nonreactive VDRL. 38.9% were positive for antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen, the markers HBsAg and anti-Core were negative by 100%; 1.7% were positive for total antibodies against Hepatitis C. It is concluded that the screening of infectious diseases that represent risk factors for vertically transmission infections during pregnancy, is one of the most appropriate tools to diagnose these diseases and prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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