Higher prevalence, 8% (9/112), was observed in the age group of 2024 years. (AOR 9. 1; 95% CI: 1 . 3461. 79), surgical procedure (AOR 12. 8; 95% CI: 1 . 6897. 06) and history of multiple sexual partners (AOR 16. 8; 95% CI: 3. 1889. 06) were significant predictors of HBV infection. == Conclusions == This study determined that the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women was 6. 9%, implying that it is high-intermediate endemic area, which is important public health issue needs to be addressed. History of abortion, nose piercing, surgical procedures and multiple sexual partners were significantly associated with this viral infection. Accordingly we supporter that health education programs on the mode of HBV transmission, high-risk behaviors and methods of preventions should be instituted at antenatal care clinics to raise the awareness of mothers and limit the propagate of infection. It is also advisable to MSDC-0160 implement nosocomial infection prevention strategies to prevent the transmissions of HBV through health care related activities such as surgical procedures. Furthermore, all pregnant women should be screened for HBV, treated if necessary to reduce their viral loads and their children vaccinated at birth with the single-dose hepatitis B vaccine to break the cycle of mother-to-child transmission. == Background == Hepatitis B infection is caused by the hepatitis B computer virus (HBV). It is an enveloped DNA virus that infects the liver and causes hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation [1]. HBV infection is one of a serious public health problem worldwide and it is 50100 times more contagious than HIV [2, 3]. Many of the carriers do not realize that they are infected with the virus rendering the HBV to be known as a silent killer MSDC-0160 [4]. Worldwide, it is estimated that 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B [5]. The largest number of people living with chronic HBV live in the Western Pacific region (over 95 million) followed by the African region (over 75 million) [6]. Recent reports demonstrated that 68, 600 people die of HBV infection and more than 300, 000 deaths due to liver cancer secondary to hepatitis B every year globally [7]. Perinatal and early childhood transmissions are the main routs of HBV infection in high and intermediate endemic areas [8]. Administering HBV vaccination to 90% of newborns within 24 hours from birth would prevent 84% of global HBV-related deaths [9]. In Ethiopia, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was launched in 1980 with the objective of achieving universal child immunization by 1990. However , the immunization policy was updated in 2007 which enrolled childhood immunization against HBV in a penta-valent type at the age of 6, 10 and 14 weeks after birth [10]. It has been noticed that the risk of HBV transmission decreases in a setting where there is a periodic perinatal HBV screening, immunoprophylaxis given to infants born to HBV infected mothers and hepatitis B vaccine administered both to high risk mothers and to all newborn infants [11]. Antenatal screening intended for HBsAg PPP2R2B to all pregnant women and vaccination of their babies at birth has been recommended widely, yet it is not a routine practice in most health settings of Ethiopia [10]. It was estimated that over 5 million people are living with chronic HBV infection among the general population of Ethiopia [6]. However , data on the epidemiology of HBV infection in Ethiopia are limited, though few studies were conducted in the northern regions of the country. Using survey based questioners of Ethiopian blood donors, one study indicated that 8% and second 14. 4% are infected by HBV in northern part of Ethiopia [12, 13]. Another study carried in Dessie [14] and Bahir Dar City [15] reported the prevalence of 4. 9% and 3. 8% among pregnant women, respectively. Other study from the same area also showed that 7. 3% of sexually transmitted infections among women attending antenatal care were accounted for HBV infection [16]. These few studies indicated that hepatitis B infection among pregnant women raise a public health concern. The magnitude of the MSDC-0160 problem is not yet addressed in many parts of Ethiopia that include the Eastern Region. Different reports showed.