A Cross-sectional Survey About Awareness of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Mother to Child Transmission among First Prenatal Visiting Pregnant Women / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To investigate awareness of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and its mother to child transmis-sion(MTCT)among pregnant women attending their first prenatal visit.[Methods]Pregnant women who attended their first prenatal visit to obstetrics outpatient department of the third affiliated hospital of SUN Yat-sen University from May to Aug. 2014,were invited to participate this survey.The self-administered questionnaire about mother to child transmission of HBV was completed anonymously.Data were collected and using ANOVA and logistic analysis to assess the awareness of hepatitis B and its MTCT,and attitudes towards prevention of MTCT of HBV,and to analyze the effective factors of knowledge and at-titudes.[Results]①Of the 500 questionnaires,the effective response rate was 91.8%(459/500).② The total knowledge score of 11 knowledge questions was 11,and the mean score of participants was 6.09 ± 3.29(M±SD). Only about 50% of participants were aware of the complications of hepatitis B and increasing these complications if caused by MTCT. 65.3% of participants knew hepatitis B vaccine.The awareness about modes of HBV transmission including through blood,unprotected sexual intercourse,MTCT and unsafe needles or sharps were 72.0%,48.9%,75.9% and 66.3%,respectively.③The total attitudes score of 6 attitudes questions was 6,and the mean score of participants was 3.84±1.50(M±SD).More than 80% of pregnant women were willing to be screened for hepatitis B,and let neonate receive HBV vaccine.If diagnosed with hepatitis B,83.1% of pregnant women were willing to let neonate receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin,however,only 16.2% would take drugs to prevent MTCT of HBV.④Education with college or higher level was the independent effective factors associat-ed with better knowledge scores(OR=5.96,95%CI2.95~12.06).Higher education level was the independent effective fac-tor associated with better attitude scores;when compared with junior high or below,the OR values of senior high and college or higher were 1.90(95%CI1.01~3.55)and 2.50(95%CI1.43~4.33),respectively.[Conclusion]Although education level is an independent effective factor associated with knowledge of hepatitis B and attitude towards prevention of MTCT of HBV,lack of knowledge about hepatitis B is common among first prenatal-visiting pregnant women,and more education about hepatitis B is necessary.