Infections due to viral hepatitis are systemic diseases caused by viruses A-E that mostly involve the liver. [1] It is a DNA virus which belongs to the family Hepadnaviridae. The virus was first discovered as 'Australian antigen' and later named hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the blood of patients. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was discovered later as a marker for patients at a high risk for transmission of the disease. [2] Infection caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious public health problem causing about two billion infections worldwide. [3] Transmission is commonly through blood transfusion, blood products, body fluids (urine, semen, sweat, saliva, and tears), use of contaminated needles, vertical transmission (mother to child through infected birth canal), and sexual contact. [1] Neonates born of chronically infected mothers have a 70-90% risk of the infection progressing to a chronic phase. [3] Most countries in Africa have a high HBV endemicity, with the exception of Morocco and Tunisia, which have intermediate endemicity. [4] A prevalence rate of 10% of HBV was found among pregnant women in Hong Kong, [3] 12% in Taiwan, [5] and17.3% in Burkina Faso. [6] A b s t r A c t Background: Pregnant women infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) can transmit the infection to their fetuses and newborns. Neonates who contract the HBV have about 90% risk of developing chronic HBsAg carriage (HBsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen) and chronic liver disease. Neonatal immunization interrupts this vertical and perinatal transmission. Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and to identify potential risk factors associated with HBV infection. Materials and Methods: A case control study was conducted involving a total of 303 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at AKTH and 303 nonpregnant women of childbearing age. Blood sample was collected from each woman and the serum tested for the presence of HBsAg using latex rapid agglutination slide test kit (Cal-Tech Diagnostic Inc., USA) in the laboratory of the hospital. Reactive samples were stored at-20ºC and further confirmed for HBsAg using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Bio-Rad, France). HBsAg-positive samples were tested for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) using ELISA kits (Orgenics, Israel). A pretested, structured questionnaire was used for the collection of sociodemographic data and possible risk factors. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women and nonpregnant women were 7.9 and 7.6%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant and nonpregnant women. The presence of HBeAg was statistically significant among both pregnant and nonpregnant women who tested positive for HBsAg. The risk factors associated with HBV infection were blood transfusion, ear piercing, history of an affected sibling with HBV infection, tattooing, and abortion among pregnant women. Conclusion: ...

Background:Induction of labor (IOL) is an artificial initiation of labor before its spontaneous onset for the purpose of delivery of the fetoplacental unit. Many factors are associated with its success in postdatism.Objective:To compare the induction delivery intervals using transcervical Foley catheter plus oxytocin and vaginal misoprostol, and to identify the factors associated with successful induction among postdate singleton multiparae.Materials and Methods:The study was a prospective randomized controlled trial of singleton multiparous pregnant women. They were randomized into two groups, one group for intravaginal misoprostol and the other group for transcervical Foley catheter insertion as a method of cervical ripening and IOL. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 computer software (SPSS Inc., IL, Chicago, USA). Comparisons of categorical variables were done using Chi-squared test, with P < 0.05 considered as significant. Student's t-test was used for continuous variables.Results:The incidence of postdatism was found to be 136 (13.1%). The mean induction delivery time interval was shorter in the misoprostol group 70 (5.54 ± 1.8 h) than in the Foley catheter oxytocin infusion group 66 (6.65 ± 1.7 h) (P = 0.035). There was, however, no statistically significant difference in the maternal and neonatal outcomes when these two agents were used for cervical ripening and IOL. Higher parity and higher Bishop's score were the factors found to be associated with high success rate of IOL (P < 0.001).Conclusion:Vaginal misoprostol resulted in shorter induction delivery time interval as compared to transcervical Foley catheter. High parity and high Bishop's scores were the factors found to be associated with the success of IOL.

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