title: Prevalence of HBsAg/HBeAg amongst 1 936 801 couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China: An observational study.
abstract: There are few extant studies on the prevalence of HBV infection in couples preparing for pregnancy. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China, and the association between HBV prevalence and the statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT in the spouses. We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study, using data from a health check-up program for 1 936 801 rural couples from 31 provinces preparing for pregnancy between 2010 and 2012. ELISA was used to test serologic samples, and we defined couples who were either discordant or both positive for HBsAg as "POSITIVE COUPLES" (PC). Amongst the 1 936 801 couples, 202 816 (10.47%; 95% CI, 10.43%-10.51%) were PC. HBeAg (high infectiousness) was detected in 56 474 (27.84%; 95% CI, 27.65%-28.04%) of 202 816 HBsAg-positive couples. Multivariate models showed that the prevalence of HBV infection in wives increased along with the positive statuses for HBsAg/HBeAg and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of their husbands (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.31 to 4.98), after adjustment for potential confounders. Similarly, the prevalence of HBV infection in husbands was associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of their wives (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.04 to 4.93). The prevalence of POSITIVE COUPLES in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China was high, and the prevalence of HBV infection was independently associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of the spouses. Instead of solely focussing on mothers prior to becoming pregnant, POSITIVE COUPLES should be taken as an important unit of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child, Adolescent and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: disease prevalence; epidemiology; hepatitis B virus; preconception health