Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV in pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, 2017–2021


Hassan-Kadle M. A., Keles E., Nor M. A., Hassan M. A., Karaketir Ş., Hussein A. I., ...Daha Fazla

BMC Infectious Diseases, cilt.25, sa.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 25 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1186/s12879-025-11268-9
  • Dergi Adı: BMC Infectious Diseases
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Pregnancy, Seroprevalence, Somalia
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Background: Hepatitis B, C, and HIV infections are serious global health concerns that affect both developed and developing nations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV among pregnant women attending a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted from January 2017 to December 2021 at the Somalia-Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, assessed HBV, HCV, and HIV prevalence among pregnant women. Screening was performed using the VITROS® 3600 Immunodiagnostic System. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS, with descriptive data presented as frequencies and percentages, and quantitative data as means and standard deviations. The χ² test or Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical data analysis. Result: A total of 7,874 pregnant women were screened. After applying the exclusion criteria, 7,836 were tested for HBV, of whom 220 (2.8%) were positive for HBsAg. A total of 7,791 women were tested for HCV, and 33 (0.4%) were seropositive for anti-HCV antibodies. For HIV, 7,854 women were screened, and 16 (0.2%) tested positive for anti-HIV antibodies. These results indicate a moderate prevalence of HBV, a low prevalence of HCV, and a relatively low, but still concerning prevalence of HIV among pregnant women in this setting. HBsAg positivity showed statistical significance across all age groups (p ≤ 0.001), while anti-HCV positivity was significant for patients aged < 20 and 26–30 years (p = 0.011). Conclusion: This study found lower HBV, HCV, and HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Mogadishu compared to previous studies, suggesting improvements in healthcare. However, these infections remain a public health concern. Strengthening antenatal screening, expanding hepatitis B vaccination, and ensuring universal access to treatment are crucial to reducing their impact on maternal and neonatal health in Somalia.