Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women and cord blood hepatitis B surface antigen positive newborns in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Newborns infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) are at risk of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women and cord blood Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity of their newborns in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, and South Africa. STUDY DESIGN: Randomly selected paired maternal and cord blood samples (n = 101 each site) taken at delivery were tested for HBsAg and Hepatitis B extractable antigen (HBeAg) in the women using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Similarly, cord blood sample of newborn was assessed for HBsAg reactivity. HBV DNA was quantified using the Xpert® HBV viral load assay, followed by genotyping. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of maternal HBsAg positivity was 5.5 % (95 %CI: 0.4 %-7.1 %; n = 50/909). HBsAg positivity was higher in African countries (7.3 %; 95 %CI: 5.4 %-9.6 %; n = 44/606) compared to South Asian countries (2.0 %; 95 %CI: 0.8 %-4.3 %; n = 6/303; p = 0.002). Relative to South Africa, there were higher odds of HBsAg sero-positivity in women from Mozambique ((aOR): 7.7, 95 %CI: 1.6 %-37.8 %) and Mali (aOR: 5.7; 95 %CI: 1.1 %-29.7 %). The rate of HBsAg positivity in cord blood of babies born to HBsAg positive women was 28.0 % (95 %CI: 17.1 %-42.3 %; n = 14/50), including 31.8 % (95 %CI: 19.5-47.4 %; n = 14/44) in African countries. No cord blood HBsAg positivity was observed in South Asia. Genotypic analysis revealed HBV genotypes A (41.7 %) and E (58.3 %) were pre-dominant. CONCLUSION: The high rate of cord blood positivity (28.0 %) for HBsAg underscores the urgency of enhancing HBV prevention strategies to meet the World Health Organization's target of a 90 % reduction in new HBV infections by 2030.
Source: Journal of Clinical Virology
Authors: Carine Bokop, Nisha Dhar, Alane Izu, Jayendrie Thaver-Kleitman, Nishi Prabdial-sing, Musa Mohammed Ali, Godwin Akaba, Hellen C. Barsosio, James A. Berkley, Manisha Madhai Beck, Tolossa E. Chaka, Clare L. Cutland, Phurb Dorji, Maksuda Islam, Adama Mamby Keita, Feleke Belachew Lema, Nubwa Medugu, Stella Mwakio, Stephen Obaro, Eyinade K. Olateju, Rani Diana Sahni, Samir K. Saha, Sridhar Santhanam, Ragunath Sharma, Betuel Sigaúque, Eric A.F. Simoes, Samba O. Sow, Milagritos D. Tapia, Balaji Veeraraghavan, Gaurav Kwatra, Shabir A. Madhi
Institutions: University of the Witwatersrand, South African Medical Research Council, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Hawassa University, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, University of Oxford, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Adama Hospital Medical College, Bangladesh Shishu (Children) Hospital & Institute, Child Health Research Foundation, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Centre Pour le Développement des Vaccins-Mali, Nile University of Nigeria, International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Manhiça Health Research Centre, Colorado School of Public Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,210
Award: G5872716347
OpenAlex ID: W4411196830