Assessing Pregnant Women General knowledge and awareness on HBV and HCV amongst pregnant women at the Bertoua Regional Hospital in the East Region of Cameroon

Pregnant women with chronic Hepatitis B and positive Hepatitis B virus Eantigen (HBeAg ) have a 90% likelihood of transmitting the Hepatitis B virus to their newborns. Vertical transmission is the leading cause of HCV infection in children. Hepatitis B and C lead to chronic disease and are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths. A major challenge to eliminating viral hepatitis can be lack of knowledge and awareness on HBV and HCV. This cross-sectional study at Bertoua Regional Hospital of Cameroon from (June 2025 2025-January 2026) aimed at assessing pregnant women attending the Maternity Unit for the antenatal care (ANC) visits at the Bertoua Regional Hospital on their knowledge and awareness of HBV and HCV. The majority of them (62%) were aged within (19 19-28). Out of the 400 pregnant women, (91.5 %) had knowledge and awareness about Hepatitis, (26.25%) were
able to define hepatitis as a viral infection, (28%) were able to define liver as the primary organ affect by hepatitis; only (38.5%) of them regularly attend their ANC and just (8.25%) actually receive HBV and HCV counselling about its risks on pregnancy. (74.25%) of the pregnant women think HBV vaccination during pregnancy is risky and (53.25%) think it is necessary to be screened from HBV/HCV during pregnancy. However, we have limited data assessing
pregnant women knowledge and awareness on HBV or HVC across both community and healthcare settings, hence the need of this research. The findings align with the World Health Organization as well as others organisms fighting for the prevention and elimination of viral hepatitis, such as the Center. of Disease Control and Prevention.