Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection among antenatal patients at tertiary care hospital - A prospective study

Background: Hepatitis B infection in a neonate leads to chronic forms of the infection in 90% of the cases associated with the high risk of complications. This is due to transplacental transmission of HBV to the neonates. Early intervention can prevent the infection in the neonates or prevent them to succumb to a chronic infection. The present study aims to explore the seroprevalence of the HBsAg in the blood samples from healthy pregnant women patients.
Materials and Methods : A total of 200 blood samples were collected from pregnant women attending anti-natal clinic at ZMCH Dahod. HbsAg ELISA and rapid antigen test (HEPA CARD) were used to detect the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.
Result: The age wise distribution of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women using HBsAg specific ELISA shows a total prevalence of 5.26% of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women of different age groups. The prevalence of hepatitis B infection among women of age groups 18-27 years to be 4.76%, followed with 6.89% in age group 28-37 years.
Conclusion: The present study shows a prevalence range of 4% to 5.26% of hepatitis B infection among antenatal women.
 

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Seroprevalence.