1. The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in women of reproductive age in highly endemic areas in China.
- Author
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Zheng, H., Cui, F. Q., Wang, F. Z., Huang, L. F., Shao, X. P., Du, J. F., Li, J., Zhou, Y., Zheng, H. Z., Zhuo, J. T., Zeng, X. X., Zhang, G. M., Miao, N., Sun, X. J., Liang, X. F., and Luo, H. M.
- Subjects
HEPATITIS B ,HEPATITIS associated antigen ,VERTICAL transmission (Communicable diseases) ,DISEASE prevalence ,DISEASES in women ,PUBLIC health ,DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
We describe the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus ( HBV) infection among women of reproductive age residing in areas of China that are highly endemic for chronic HBV, and provide evidence useful for decision-makers to guide strategies for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV, and assess the impact of perinatal transmission PMTCT by projecting HBsAg prevalence trends without interventions. We conducted a cross-sectional HBV serological survey of women, 15-49 years of age, residing in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces. Demographic and other subject-level data were collected in face-to-face interviews, after which we obtain blood specimens. Specimens were tested for HBV sero-markers by ELISA (Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy), and HBV DNA was tested with PCR (Hunan Sansure Biotech). Weighted HBsAg and HBV (either HBsAg+ or anti- HBc+ indicating either present or past infection) prevalences were 11.82% and 57.16%, respectively. Among the HBsAg-positive women, 27% were also HBeAg positive. The proportion of individuals with HBV DNA loads >10
5 IU/mL declined with increasing age. Among HBsAg-negative women, 0.9% had occult HBV infection. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection among reproductive women in these highly endemic provinces is high, posing a threat to maternal health and risk of mother-to-child transmission. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission remains critically important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2018
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