Theme: Models of Care Year: 2021
BACKGROUND Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is a major global health issue in the World as well as Nigeria. An estimated 8.9 million children under 5 years of age are currently living with hepatitis B according to Nohep 2016. In Nigeria, pregnant women in rural areas attend traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to access health care due to poverty, primitive belief etc. Owners of TBAs were not trained on medical science to conduct medical support for pregnant women as they could not offer proper health care. METHODS The study was conducted among pregnant women in Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Rural women patronize TBAs due to poverty, this exposes them to primitive treatment taking of herbs, religious beliefs, avoiding caesarian section and so on which has led to death of mothers and infants as well as transmission of infections from mother to infants. A cross sectional analytical study was conducted between July and September 2020. We interviewed the 23 pregnant women aged 23-44 years using risk assessment questionnaire. The positive clients were counseled and referred to health facility for medical treatment. RESULTS 4 females (17.3%) were confirmed to be living with hepatitis and were successfully referred to health facility for proper treatment. CONCLUSION There is need to improve direct linkage strengthening and partnership among TBAs, private and public health facilities for TBAs to conduct hepatitis test and refer positive pregnant women to health facilities offering elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) services to prevent infants from contracting the virus. More pregnant women need to be tested to prevent transmission of hepatitis B Virus to their infants.
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