Antenatal screening for hepatitis B virus in HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women in the Tshwane district of South Africa

South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde
Q DialeS Mayaphi

Abstract

Despite enormous strides in preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, perinatal transmission still contributes significantly to HBV epidemiology worldwide; this could account for approximately 50% of chronically infected individuals. To assess the need for HBV screening in antenatal clinics in the HIV/AIDS era. This was a retrospective study conducted at the antenatal clinic of 1 Military Hospital, Tshwane, South Africa. Laboratory data for HBV, HIV and CD4 count were obtained and analysed for the period January 2008-December 2013. A total of 2,513 patients' results were retrieved and 2 368 patients were enrolled as both their HBV and HIV serology results were available. The mean age of participants was 29 years (range 14-46). HIV prevalence in this study was 20.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.189-0.222). The median CD4 count in HIV-infected patients was 522 cells/μL (interquartile range 370-711). There was an overall HBV prevalence of 0.8% (95% CI 0.005-0.011). The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was significantly higher (2.1%) among HIV co-infected compared with HIV-uninfected patients (0.4%) (p=0.0001). Hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) positivity was 30% in the HIV co-infected compared with 37.6% in the HIV-...Continue Reading

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