Efficacy of selective antenatal screening for hepatitis B among pregnant women in Denmark: is selective screening still an acceptable strategy in a low-endemicity country?
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriage in Denmark is unknown, but expected to be low (0.1%). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of selective antenatal screening for HBV infection and the epidemiology of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women. 4098 women were included in the study. Blood tests were examined for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) and anti-HCV. Case records were studied to evaluate whether patients at risk for HBV infection had been tested. Among the 4098 women, 18 10.4%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.3-0.71 were HBsAg positive. All had a risk factor for HBV infection. Only 13 (72%) were identified as HBsAg positive in the selective screening programme. 115 women (2.8%, 95% CI 2.3-3.4) were anti-HBc positive only. 95 (83%) were at risk for HBV. Only 72 of these (63%) were tested for HBsAg. The screening programme in this area of Denmark did not pick up one-third of pregnant women at risk of HBV.
Jensen
Lise
L
Department of Paediatrics, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. lise@dadlnet.dk
Heilmann
Carsten
C
Smith
Else
E
Wantzin
Per
P
Peitersen
Birgit
B
Weber
Tom
T
Krogsgaard
Kim
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines