title: Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in northeastern Romania.
abstract: We conducted a serological survey of pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in northeastern Romania to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in this population. Overall, 162 (28%) of 573 women had evidence of past or current HBV infection, and 48 (8.4%) were carriers. The prevalence of past or current infection rose with age, but did not differ by educational level, occupation, or rural versus urban residence. Integration of hepatitis B vaccine into routine childhood immunization schedules, with the first dose given at birth, may have a substantial impact on HBV infection in Romania by preventing both perinatal and early childhood transmission.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Popovici
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beldescu
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines