Identifying gaps across the cascade of care for the prevention of HBV mother‐to‐child transmission in Burkina Faso: Findings from the real world

Background Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is a challenge for controlling the hepatitis B epidemic. In Sub-Saharan countries, pilot interventions including the screening of pregnant women for HBsAg, implementation of anti-HBV therapy and infant immunization within 24 hours of life are initiated and need to be evaluated. This pilot study aimed to describe the cascade of care for hepatitis B PMTCT in a real life situation, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with adequate management of pregnant women and infants. Method The study was conducted from October 1st, 2014 to February 28th, 2016 in the antenatal clinics (ANCV) of Baskuy district which comprises nine first-level public health centres. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with the likelihood of retention in the cohort, HBV DNA testing, birth dose delivery and HBsAg testing of the children at 6 months of age; P ˂ .05 was selected as cut off for significance. Results In this prospective cohort study, of 5200 pregnant women consulting for the antenatal visit, 2261 (43.5%) were proposed pre-test counselling and HBsAg screening and 2220 (98.2%) have agreed to screening. Among 1580 (71.2%) women that came back for the post-counselling interview, 75 were positive for HBsAg (4.8%), 73 (97.3% of the women provided HBsAg result) consented to medical consultation with hepatogastroenterologists and 53 (72.6%); performed the HBV DNA testing. Forty-seven out of 60 (78.3%; 65.8-87.9) children born alive were immunized for HBV within 24 hours of life. Retention in care was associated with the level of education of the infant's father, secondary school or higher was associated with a better retention in care of the women (OR: 6.6; P = .03). Conclusion Our study shows large gaps in HBV PMTCT. Resources for hepatitis B screening, care and prevention including universal access to the vaccine birth dose should be allocated to reduce infection in HBV exposed infants born in Burkina Faso.