title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus serologic markers in pregnant patients in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem in Madagascar. Its severity is related to the risk of chronicity, especially in case of neonatal contamination. Our objectives were to investigate the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant patients at the Befelatanana obstetrics and gynecology teaching hospital department (BOGTH) by detecting HBsAg and to evaluate the risk of HBV mother to child transmission by screening for HBeAg.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 6-month prospective study in the BTHOGD from February 2012 to July 2012. All pregnant patients consulting for antenatal care were screened for HBV serologic markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HBsAg was 1.9% (20 out 1050 screened patients). The average age was 26.51 years (25-30 years). Most patients tested were unaware of their hepatitis B status and only 0.38% had been vaccinated before pregnancy. Only 1 (5%) of the 20 patients with HBsAg was positive for HBeAg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis B is very frequent in pregnant patients in Madagascar and it is recommended that all pregnant patients be routinely screened for HBsAg. This screening of maternal infection would allow applying prophylactic measures to neonates to decrease the risk of disease chronicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Electronic address: drrtoky@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Randriamahazo
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Raherinaivo
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Rakotoarivelo
authors.affiliation: Centre infectiologie Charles Mérieux, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Contamin
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Rakoto Alson
authors.affiliation: Service de consultation prénatale, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Andrianapanalinarivo
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital universitaire de gynécologie obstétrique de Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasamindrakotroka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
keywords: Grossesse; Hepatitis B; Hépatite B; Madagascar; Pregnancy; Prophylaxie; Prophylaxis