title: Surveillance for hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women in Greece shows high rates of chronic infection among immigrants and low vaccination-induced protection rates: preliminary results of a single center study.
abstract: Epidemiological data on the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women in Greece are limited. We evaluated the prevalence of HBV serological markers in a multinational population of pregnant women in Athens, Greece. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) was 4.1% with the highest rates among Albanian immigrants (12%). Relatively low vaccination-induced protection rates (32.5%) were observed, a finding suggesting that surveillance and immunisation programmes targeted at pregnant women are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Elena Venizelou Hospital, Greece. ielefs@nurs.uoa.gr
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Elefsiniotis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glynou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zorou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Magaziotou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brokalaki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Apostolopoulou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vezali
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kada
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saroglou