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. 2022 Sep 23;2(9):e0000450.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000450. eCollection 2022.

Low knowledge about hepatitis B prevention among pregnant women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Sahal Thahir  1 , Samantha E Tulenko  2 , Patrick Ngimbi  3 , Sarah Ntambua  3 , Jolie Matondo  3 , Kashamuka Mwandagalirwa  3 , Martine Tabala  3 , Didine Kaba  3 , Marcel Yotebieng  4 , Jonathan B Parr  5 , Peyton Thompson  1
Affiliations

Low knowledge about hepatitis B prevention among pregnant women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Sahal Thahir et al. PLOS Glob Public Health. .

Abstract

Infants infected perinatally with hepatitis B (HBV) are at the highest risk of developing chronic hepatitis and associated sequelae. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HBV requires improved screening and awareness of the disease. This study evaluated existing HBV knowledge among pregnant mothers (n = 280) enrolled in two HBV studies in urban maternity centers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. All mothers responded to three knowledge questions upon study enrollment. Baseline levels of knowledge related to HBV transmission, treatment, prevention, and symptoms were low across all participants: 68.8% did not know how HBV was transmitted, 70.7% did not know how to prevent or treat HBV MTCT, and 79.6% did not know signs and symptoms of HBV. Over half of participants responded "I don't know" to all questions. HBV-positive women who participated in both studies (n = 46) were asked the same questions during both studies and showed improved knowledge after screening and treatment, despite no formal educational component in either study (p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for intensified education initiatives in highly endemic areas to improve PMTCT efforts.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following competing interests: Outside of the submitted work, JBP, PT, and MY report research support from Gilead Sciences and non-financial support from Abbott Diagnostics; JBP has also received research support from the World Health Organization and an honorarium from Virology Education. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Schematic depicting activities in the AVERT and BDI studies, including the point at which enrollment questionnaires were conducted.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Distribution of HBV knowledge scores at baseline.
Score reflects the number of correct responses to 9 statements about HBV symptoms, transmission, and prevention. The average knowledge score was 1.06.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Participants responses to the question “in your opinion, how serious a disease is hepatitis B?” among women with no HBV knowledge (score of 0 on HBV knowledge assessment) and women with any HBV knowledge (score > 0 on HBV knowledge assessment).
Fig 4
Fig 4. Distribution of knowledge scores at baseline and follow-up among 46 HBV-positive women who participated in both studies.
Average score at baseline was 2.8 (range 0–6) and average score at follow-up was 3.7 (range 0–7) (p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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