title: Hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus type-1, and syphilis among women attending prenatal clinics in Belize, Central America.
abstract: Women and their infants may benefit from therapeutic interventions when hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or syphilis are detected during the prenatal period. We initiated hepatitis B and HIV screening of women attending prenatal clinics in Belize. Risk factor assessment information for hepatitis B infection and demographic data were determined by interview. Of 543 evaluable women, 81 (14.9%) were seropositive for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc); one woman had asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigenemia. Antibodies to HIV-1 were detected in one woman. Reactive syphilis serologies were detected in 15 (2.8%) women. Anti-HBc seroprevalence varied by district (range 3.1-43.5%) and by ethnicity (range 0.0-40.9%). Significant identified risks for anti-HBc seropositivity from univariate analyses included being of the Garifuna ethnic group, residence or birth in the Stann Creek or Toledo districts, a reactive syphilis serology, a household size of eight or greater, and five or more lifetime sexual partners. Multivariate analyses identified ethnicity and a reactive rapid plasma reagin as the best predictors of anti-HBc seropositivity. Highly variable differences in anti-HBc prevalence by district may permit the targeting of limited public health resources for education, screening, and prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scott-Wright
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakre
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cruess
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Macarthy
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gaydos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001531:Belize / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens