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.
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.
Elefsiniotis
I S
IS
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Elena Venizelou Hospital, Greece. ielefs@nurs.uoa.gr
Glynou
I
I
Zorou
I
I
Magaziotou
I
I
Brokalaki
H
H
Apostolopoulou
E
E
Vezali
E
E
Kada
H
H
Saroglou
G
G