1.1 Introduction
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, and can be caused also by other types of infection (bacteria fungi etc); toxic drugs; poisons; alcoholism and so on. Incidentally, not all hepatitis is caused by viruses (Drexott etal; 2005). Viral hepatitis is a disease as old as the history of Medicine. Hepatitis was described in the Babylonian Talmud in the fifty century BC, and was referred to by Hippocratic over 2000 years ago. Despite this ancient knowledge, it was not until 1963, that the first human Repetitious virus was isolated, Hepatitis B. This was followed quickly by the purification of Hepatitis A in 1973, and more recently by the isolation of viruses C, D, E and G. These viruses are known to infect the human liver (Anderson et al; 2001).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The hepatitis virus was discovered in 1965 by Dr. Baruch Blumberg who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery. Originally, the virus was called the Australia Antigen because it was named for an Australian aborigine's blood sample that reacted with an antibody in the serum of an American hemophilia patient.
In 1981, the FDA approved a more sophisticated plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use. This “inactivated” type of vaccine involved the collection of blood from hepatitis B virus-infected (HBsAg-positive) donors. The pooled blood was subjected to multiple steps to inactive the viral particles that included formaldehyde and heat treatment. Merck Pharmaceuticals manufactured this plasma vaccine as "Heptavax," which was the first commercial hepatitis B virus vaccine. The use of this vaccine was discontinued in 1990 and it is no longer available in the U.S.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates at more than 2 billion the number of people infected with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in the World. An estimated 240 million people are chronic carriers of HBV, making HBV infection the tenth leading cause of death. More than 600,000 people die every year from Complications of Hepatitis Virus Infection. Liver cancer is the worst consequence of HBV infection and is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer in the World. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B with 80 million people carriers of HBV and a prevalence ranging from 5% to 10% in the adult population (World Health Organization, 2016). Despite HBV prevalence being relatively high in SSA, screening and treatment is still limited or rare in this region (Patassi et al., 2016).
In SSA, HBV is most commonly transmitted from mother-to child at birth (perinatal transmission) or through horizontal transmission (exposure to infected blood), especially from an infected child to an uninfected child during the first 5 years of life (Dawaki et al., 2006). Sexual transmission of HBV, which is scarcely documented, could also occur among healthy adults particularly when unvaccinated people engage in risky sexual behaviors (World Health Organization, 2016). The main complication of HBV infection is the occurrence of hepatic cirrhosis that lead to hepatocellular carcinoma especially when transmission occurs before the age of 5 (Thursz et al., 2014). To avoid HBV transmission during childhood, the HBV vaccine was introduced in the expanded program on immunization (EPI) in several countries of SSA in the years 2000. In Nigeria, the HBV vaccine was introduced into the National EPI in 2008.
Very few data on the prevalence of HBV in the general population exist in Nigeria. One study conducted among people living with HIV in 2011 estimated the HBV prevalence at 9.7% (Patassi et al., 2016). Another study among prisoners in 2013 estimated the prevalence at 12.5%, while a study among individuals in a hospital in Abuja found prevalence as high as 19.1% (Jaquet et al., 2016). However, no study in Nigeria has so far specifically focused on the prevalence of HBV among youth and university students, who could be considered a vulnerable population.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection among Pregnant Women.
1.3 Statement of Problems
The study reveals the following problems associated with the Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria;
- Lack proper estimation of the prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection and its correlates among Pregnant Women,
- Inadequate information relating to the Socio-demographic Characteristics of the prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection,
- Inadequate information relating to the evaluation of the Hepatitis Virus Infection surface antigen among Pregnant Women in Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to determine the Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection and its correlates among Pregnant Women in Nigeria;
- To investigate the causes of hepatitis virus infection surface antigen among Pregnant Women in Nigeria; and
- To evaluate the Socio-demographic Characteristics of the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection and its correlates among Pregnant Women in Nigeria?
- What are the causes of hepatitis virus infection surface antigen among Pregnant Women in Nigeria?
- What are the Socio-demographic Characteristics of the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant factor that leads to hepatitis virus infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria
- H1: There is a significant factor that leads to hepatitis virus infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria
1.7 Significance of Study
This research work when completed and implemented it will help Pregnant Women in Nigeria to be informed about hepatitis virus infection and the estimated prevalence of hepatitis virus infection. This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection among Pregnant Women in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Technical Terms
Prevalence: prevalence is the proportion of a particular population found to be affected by a medical condition at a specific time.
