Prevalence and determinants of hepatitis B virus markers in pregnant women in West Java, Indonesia.
In Bandung, West Java, 300 consecutive pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers at a prenatal consultation. The prevalence of HBsAg and of anti-HBs/anti-HBc was 4.7% (14/300) and 35.6% (107/300) respectively, while 59.7% (179/300) was sero-negative. Prevalence of HBV markers increased significantly with both age and parity. Women with less schooling and a low socioeconomic class seemed to be at higher risk for HBV infection (HBV-markers prevalence of 49.3% (35/71) and 58.3% (21/36) respectively). Among employed women, the subgroup of school-teachers had a significantly higher HBV-markers prevalence of 54.8% (23/42), with a HBsAg carrier rate of 11.9% (5/42). This could indicate an important nonparenteral transmission of HBV in schools. The prevalence of HBeAg in HBsAg positive women was 64.3% (9/14). Based on historical data on perinatal HBV transmission, this would lead to a HBV carriership in 2.4 to 3.5% of all newborns. Possible strategies of prevention of HBV infection in newborns are briefly discussed.
Reniers
J
J
Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Vranckx
R
R
Ngantung
W
W
Sugita
E
E
Meheus
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens