Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Epidemiology and Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of Pregnant Women in Lorestan, West of Iran

Abstract

BackgroundThere are little data on the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in pregnant women in Iran.ObjectivesThis study was designed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women in Lorestan, west of Iran.Patients and MethodsSerum samples of 827 pregnant women who lived in rural (36.8%) and urban areas (63.2%) of Lorestan were collected during 2007-2008. Data were obtained through questionnaires. Samples were first screened for anti-HCV and anti-HBc by ELISA. Those who were positive for anti-HBc were tested for HBsAg.ResultsAnti-HBc was found in 28 of 827 pregnant women (overall prevalence, 3.4%; 14 of 523 in urban areas, 2.7%; 14 of 304 in rural areas, 4.6%). Of the 28 positive samples, 6(0.7%) were positive for HBs-Ag. Only 2 samples (0.2%) were anti-HCV-positive.ConclusionsThese results underscore the need for prenatal screening for HBV infection in pregnant women and treatment of newborns from HBsAg-positive mothers.More studies are needed to identify risk factors of HCV infection and highlight the importance of HCV screening and treatment programs.

Seroepidemiological patterns and predictors of hepatitis B, C and HIV viruses among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic of Atat Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

“…Even though the difference was not statistically significant, the prevalence of HBsAg was higher in the age group between 21 and 30 years old, 7 (3.2%), which is in line with Debre-Tabor town of Ethiopia 37 where higher HBsAg prevalence was reported among the age group <30 years old. However, it disagrees with the results reported in Iran 27 and Jimma, 32 Ethiopia where pregnant women with the age group between 30-34 years and greater than 40 years old had higher prevalence of HBV infection. The high prevalence among this age group was consistently reported in several other studies.…”

“…The HCV's finding of our study (1.8%) is inconsistent with previous reports among pregnant women in Sudan (0.6%), 43 Benin City, Nigeria (0.8%) 44 and Iran (0.2%). 27 However, it is in line with Egypt (1.75%), 45 Gondar, Ethiopia (1.3%). 39 In contrast, higher prevalence of HCV was reported from Yemen (8.5%).…”

“…21,26 HBV-related liver diseases are more progressive in HIV co-infected patients than in patients with HBV infection alone. 27 Even though WHO recommended screening of all pregnant mothers, this practice is poor currently in Ethiopia especially in the locality where the research is conducted. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B, C and HIV infections and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) clinic at Atat Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.…”

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and associated risk factors among pregnant women

“…The prevalence of HBsAg in our study is alike in the studies reported in Libya 1.5%, in Algeria 1.6% [17], in Mexico 1.65% [18], in Amritsar (India) 1.19% [19], in Isfahan (Iran) (1.56%) [20] and in Bulgaria 2.26% [21]. However, the prevalence of HBsAg in the present study is higher than the studies reported in Lorestan West of Iran (0.7%) [22], in India (0.9%) [23], in Punjab (Northern India) (1.1%) [24], and in Peshawar, Pakistan (1.16%) [25]. On the other hand, higher prevalance rates were reported in Bahir Dar (Northwest of Ethiopia) (3.8%) [26], in Mayotte Indian Ocean (France) (3.4%) [27], in Southwestern Nigeria (7.1%) [28], in Cameroon (9.7%) [29], in Eastern Ethiopia (6.9%) [30], in Southern Ethiopia (7.8%) [31], in Bahir Dar (Northwest Ethiopia) once again (4.4%) [32], and in Sana'a Yemen (10.8%) [33].…”

Lower Intrafamilial Transmission Rate of Hepatitis B in Patients With Hepatitis D Coinfection: A Data-Mining Approach

“…Researches have shown that the introduction of HBV vaccination has resulted in lower intrafamilial transmission of HBV (19). Researchers have suggested screening pregnant women for HBV infection to reduce perinatal transmission (20). The transmission may be present even after vaccination, especially in neonates of mothers with positive results for HBeAg.…”