Prevalence of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women, and to study acceptance and compliance of hepatitis B screening program during the five year period. A five year, descriptive cross sectional study of screening for hepatitis B infection of routine prenatal laboratory testing during antenatal registration. Compliance with the programme was evaluated by checking delivery and laboratory records of the hospital. Study Period January 1 2002 to December 31, 2006. Kharadar General Hospital [KGH] Karachi. During the last five years 34, 918 women registered for antenatal care at KGH. Out of these 25, 482 women accepted to be screened for hepatitis B virus. A total of 401 women were found to be hepatitis B surface antigen positive. The overall prevalence was 1.57% during this period. We found a rising trend in the acceptance of the hepatitis B screening among pregnant women coming for antenatal care from 42% in 2002 to 96% in the year 2006. [p value <0.001]. We also observed an overall decrease in the prevalence of seropositive cases observed, probably due to the administration of hepatitis B vaccination in the postpartum period. Prevalence of seropositivity of hepatitis B was 1.57% among pregnant women at KGH. Secondly, there was a higher trend in acceptance of hepatitis B screening among pregnant women during the antenatal period