DETERMINATION OF ANTIBODIES TO HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN AKURE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) antibodies in pregnant women were determined using the rapid kit with double sandwich antibody procedure. Eight hundred and sixty pregnant women were recruited for this study. Out of this number forty (4.7%) were positive while eight hundred and twenty (95.3%) were negative, indicating an overall prevalence of 4.7%. It therefore implies that the area under study showed low endemicity for the infection. It was also observed that health status of the women and their history of travels outside Akure, Ondo State was not associated with HBsAg seropositivity. The significance of these findings is discussed.