Sero prevalence of Hepatitis B virus among infertile women recruited for Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART)

Aim: Sexually transmissible diseases such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes or induces incurable often fatal infections have been transmitted through Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART). This study is to determine the seroprevalence of HBV among infertile women recruited for intrauterine insemination (I.U.I). Methodology and Results: A 5mL of blood was collected and serum aspirated. The detection of HBV was carried out using global one-step rapid test kit relative sensitivity of 99% and specific of 97%. Age range of infertile women was 20 – 49 years. Approximately 30 (5.9%) out of the 512 recruited women were seropositive for HBV with increase in prevalence rate among age group of (25 – 29 years) and (30 – 34 years). The rate of infection of HBV was found to be insignificant in this study using chi-square statistical analysis (p > 0.0001). Conclusion, Significance and Impact of Study: Though the rate of the virus infection were statistically insignificant but the screening should be a continuous exercise and be carried out by all fertility center.