title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in pregnant women in Sana'a, Yemen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening for Hepatitis B and C during pregnancy may help to decide on appropriate antiviral therapy and the institution of steps to minimize vertical transmission to the newborn infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted during November-December 2011 to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for markers of HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen; HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibody among pregnant women at the Al-Thawra hospital in Sana'a, Yemen. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic obstetrics and medical data and sera were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 400 pregnant women enrolled in the study, HBsAg and anti-HCV were detected in 43 (10.8%; 95% CI: 8.0-14.0%) and 34 (8.5%, 95% CI: 6.0-11.5%) women, respectively. None of the women were co-infected with HBV and HCV. Multivariate analysis showed that circumcision was significantly associated with HBsAg seropositivity (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1-10.2; p = 0.03), low parity (primigravidae and secundigravidae) and education below secondary level were significantly associated with anti- HCV seropositivity (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1-10.2; p = 0.03). No other sociodemographic or clinical characteristics (age, residence, history of home delivery, miscarriage, dental manipulation, surgery, and blood transfusion) were significantly associated with HBsAg or anti-HCV seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that HBsAg and anti-HCV have high prevalence among pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AL Kuwait hospital, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Entisar A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.forename: Suad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Babiker
authors.forename: Gasim I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Gasim
authors.forename: Duria A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rayis
authors.forename: Ishag
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019093:Circumcision, Female; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens