Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Associated Seromarkers among Pregnant Women in Eritrea
- Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology
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Nahom Fessehaye1*, Araia Berhane2, Hagos Ahmed3, Salih Mohamed4, Freweini Tecle4, Joseph Gikunju1 and Eddy Odari1
School of Biomedical Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya - Araia Berhane, Communicable Diseases Control Division, Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea
- Hagos Ahmed, National Statistics Office, Asmara, Eritrea
- Salih Mohamed, National Health Laboratory, Asmara, Eritrea
- Freweini Tecle4, National Health Laboratory, Asmara, Eritrea
- Joseph Gikunju , School of Biomedical Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Eddy Odari, School of Biomedical Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract
1.1. Background: The global burden of chronic Hepatitis B infection is estimated at more than 240 million. Early HBV transmission and especially mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) contributes for more than one third of those chronic cases. Therefore understanding the epidemiology of HBV infection among pregnant women is critical to prevent MTCT. The epidemiology of HBV infection within the general population of many sub-Saharan African countries is documented but there is very limited data among pregnant women. In this study, the sero-prevalence of HBV markers was assessed among women seeking antenatal care within different health facilities in Eritrea.
1.2. Methods: This study was conducted within the framework of the 2016 national antenatal care (ANC) sentinel surveillance for HIV infection. A total of 5009 participants from a selected 16 ANC sites were screened for HBV Seromarkers. The Seromarkers screened using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique included; HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc and anti-HBs. The data generated by the serological testing were collated to the socio-demographic characteristic which was generated by use of questionnaires.
1.3. Results: The mean age of the women was 26.7 ±5.9 years. Results of the serological markers showed that 163 (3.2%) were positive for HBsAg indicating an active infection and 7(3.9%) positive for HBeAg indicating an increased infectivity. It was noted that 35 (17.4%) of the HBsAg positive women also presented with anti-HBe. The prevalence of anti-HBc and anti-HBs Seromarkers among the study participants was 1241 (25.8%) and 706 (14.2%) respectively. The prevalence of HBV showed marked difference among the zobas (regions) ranging from 2.1% to 7.5%. Results of the socio-demographic data showed that 92.7% of the women were married with 88.5% being housewives. Approximately 68% of the women had attended formal education.
1.4. Conclusion: The results of this study show a potential for vertical transmission within the 3.2% population determined. Childhood vaccination against HBV therefore remains key to prevention and mitigation of HBV in the Eritrean population.
Keywords
Hepatitis B virus, Seroprevalence, ELISA, Pregnant women, Antenatal care, Eritrea, Vaccination, Hepatic carcinoma, Epidemiology, Chronic infection, Immuno prophylaxis, Immunization, Implementers, Anemia, Malnutrition, Disproportionate, Households, Urbanized, Specimen, Clusters, Analyses, Serum, Conjugated, Antibodies
