Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital

Background and aims: Hepatitis B (HBV) infection is a global public health problem affecting 2 billion people worldwide. The control and management of HBV infection in the developing world, particularly among pregnant women, requires attention due to the disease's high death and morbidity rates. Additionally, during pregnancy, the detection of HBsAg suggested the probability of vertical transmission of HBV. This investigation sought to elucidate the seriousness of HBV transmission among pregnant women who visited Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), Jorhat. Materials and methods: A total of 5324 pregnant women were screened for HBV infection using a rapid diagnosis kit. Positive samples were further subjected to determine HBcAb and anti-HBcIgM by ELISA assay. Results: Out of this, 29 tested positive for HBsAg (0.54 %), and among these cases, 24(82.76 %) cases significantly belonged to the Mising tribe. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher (n=14, 48.27%) in the age group of 25-34 years compared to other age groups in this study. Among these, 13.8% (n=4) tested positive for HBcAb, and anti-HBcIgM was detected in 17.24% (n=5) patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV infection observed among pregnant women in this study reflects a high risk of HBV perinatal transmission, particularly in a specific tribal population, and thus underscores the need to design intrusion strategies to prevent vertical transmission for HBV infection.

Keywords: HBV; HBsAg; HBcAb; anti HBcIgM; Mising tribe