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Objectives: China has implemented universal hepatitis B vaccination since 2002 and provided charge-free hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) to infants of HBV-infected mothers since July 2011. We aimed to compare mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in children born before and since July 2011. Methods: In total, 5,149 children of HBV-infected mothers were tested for HBV markers. Group one contained 1,160 children born during August 2002–June 2011 and group two contained 3,989 children born during July 2011–June 2016. Results: In total, 92 (1.8%, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.4–2.2) children were infected with HBV. None (0%, 95%CI 0.0–0.1) of 3,716 children of mothers with negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was infected, whereas 92 (6.4%, 95%CI 5.2–7.8) of 1,433 children of HBeAg-positive mothers were infected (p < 0.0001). Among children of HBeAg-positive mothers, MTCT occurred in 10.3% (19/185) (95%CI 6.3–15.6) in group one and 5.8% (73/1,248) (95%CI 4.6–7.3) in group two (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Implementing charge-free active-passive immunoprophylaxis greatly reduces MTCT of HBV in children of HBeAg-positive mothers, highlighting the importance of timely administration of both hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG to prevent MTCT. The still remaining MTCT suggests that reducing maternal virus load before delivery is an additional important measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China has implemented a nation-wide policy to control mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since 2011, yet the efficacy of the control policy is less studied. The aim of the present study was to report the data in the prevention of MTCT of HIV in Nantong city, China., Methods: The screening and prevalence of HIV in pregnant women and the efficacy of prophylaxis in Nantong city, China, January 2012 through December 2018, were analyzed., Results: Among a total population of 410,044 pregnant women, anti-HIV was tested prenatally in 393,658 (96.0%) women and in 16,287 (3.97%) women at delivery. In total, 51 women were confirmed with HIV infection. After the exclusion of repeat pregnancies, the overall prevalence of HIV infection was 1.20/10 000 (48/400,377). The prevalence (6.75/10,000) in women tested at delivery was >5-fold higher than that (1.02/10,000) in prenatally screened women. Of 48 HIV-infected women, 12 terminated their pregnancies and 36 others delivered 36 neonates, of whom 35 were followed up. No HIV infection occurred in 24 children born to mothers with antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy along with other preventive measures. Among 11 children born to mothers who did not receive ART during pregnancy because of the absence of a prenatal anti-HIV test, none of the 6 children who were delivered by cesarean section and timely administered neonatal antiretroviral prophylaxis was infected, but 2 (40%) of 5 children who were spontaneously delivered and administered delayed antiretroviral prophylaxis were infected., Conclusion: Prenatal identification of HIV infection and timely administration of all preventive measures can completely block MTCT of HIV. The data indicate that more efforts must be taken to ensure that all pregnant women are tested for anti-HIV during pregnancy. For pregnant women who missed the prenatal screening, a positive result in rapid anti-HIV test at delivery should be sufficient to take preventive measures to prevent MTCT of HIV., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)