Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in pregnancy are associated with direct effects of pregnancy and a potential viral transmission from mother to newborn. In Libya; little is known on the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections and their associated factors among pregnant women. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV among pregnant women in Libya. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in Tripoli Medical Center from January 2016 to December 2016. A total of 5251 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) were consecutively enrolled in the study. Results: 5251 pregnant women enrolled in this study. The patient age between 18 to 42 years and all of them were married. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 1.4% (74/5251) and HCV was 0.19% (10/5251). From these 74 positive patients; HBV was detected at higher rate in pregnant women aged between > 25 years [93.2% (69/74)] whereas in pregnant women aged < 25 years [6.8% (5/74)], the difference was statistically significant (P > 0.05). Most of the positive patients for HBV [89% (66/74)] and HCV [70% (7/10)] were multi-parity. Husband viral status of the infected pregnant patients; 44% of the husbands of the pregnant women were not infected (sero-negative) whereas only 16% were infected (sero-positive) and about 39.5% of them their viral status were not known. Significant number of the infected women about 50% gave history of exposure to dental procedures. Ninety six percent of neonates were born to HBsAg-positive mothers were born at term and 90% of them born with birth weight between 2 and 4 kilogram. Conclusions: Prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among pregnant women was significant. Adoption of HBsAg screening of all pregnant women will greatly assist in reducing the maternal transmission of HBV in Libya.

Keywords: HBV, HBsAg, HCV, Pregnant women