Hepatitis B virus infection and HBeAg positivity among pregnant women in South West Uganda.

IF 1 Q4 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL

African Journal of Laboratory Medicine Pub Date : 2022-01-01 DOI:10.4102/ajlm.v11i1.1784

Naome Mugabiirwe, Rogers Kalyetsi, Richard Ayella, James Obote, Frank Ssedyabane

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus is a public health burden in Uganda, yet little is known about its epidemiology in pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Kyazanga Health Centre IV in Lwengo District, Uganda.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2021 to June 2021 and analysed qualitative data that were collected using a structured in-person questionnaire. Aseptically collected blood specimens were screened for hepatitis B virus infection using an immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test kit. Participants who were positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were further screened for hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) using commercial rapid diagnostic test kits.

Results: Out of 384 pregnant women studied, eight tested positive for HBsAg. This gave a prevalence of 2.1% (95% confidence interval: 1.0% - 4.1%); 5/8 (62.5%) were positive for HBeAg. None of the variables studied were significantly associated with HBsAg positivity among pregnant women.

Conclusion: Hepatitis B viral infection is still a public health challenge in pregnant women with possible risk for vertical transmission to their babies in the study area. We recommend routine screening for hepatitis B virus in pregnancy in addition to strengthening current strategies aimed at controlling and preventing hepatitis B infection spread and transmission.

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乌干达西南部孕妇乙型肝炎病毒感染和HBeAg阳性

背景:乙型肝炎病毒是乌干达的一个公共卫生负担，但对其在妊娠期的流行病学知之甚少。目的:本研究旨在确定在乌干达Lwengo区Kyazanga第四保健中心接受产前保健的孕妇中乙型肝炎病毒感染的流行率和相关危险因素。方法:本横断面研究于2021年4月至2021年6月进行，并分析了使用结构化面对面问卷收集的定性数据。无菌采集的血液标本使用免疫层析快速诊断试剂盒筛选乙型肝炎病毒感染。乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)阳性的参与者使用商业快速诊断测试试剂盒进一步筛选乙型肝炎包膜抗原(HBeAg)。结果:384名孕妇中，8名HBsAg检测呈阳性。由此得出患病率为2.1%(95%置信区间:1.0% - 4.1%);5/8 (62.5%) HBeAg阳性。研究的变量中没有一个与孕妇HBsAg阳性显著相关。结论:乙型肝炎病毒感染仍是研究地区孕妇面临的公共卫生挑战，可能存在母婴垂直传播风险。除了加强目前旨在控制和预防乙型肝炎感染传播和传播的战略外，我们建议对妊娠期乙型肝炎病毒进行常规筛查。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

African Journal of Laboratory Medicine MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

1.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： The African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, the official journal of ASLM, focuses on the role of the laboratory and its professionals in the clinical and public healthcare sectors,and is specifically based on an African frame of reference. Emphasis is on all aspects that promote and contribute to the laboratory medicine practices of Africa. This includes, amongst others: laboratories, biomedical scientists and clinicians, medical community, public health officials and policy makers, laboratory systems and policies (translation of laboratory knowledge, practices and technologies in clinical care), interfaces of laboratory with medical science, laboratory-based epidemiology, laboratory investigations, evidence-based effectiveness in real world (actual) settings.