ANTENATAL SCREENING FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION

Background:- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection still has a relatively high incidence and prevalence worldwide. In the post-vaccination era in developing countries, perinatal vertical transmission remains the most common mode of transmission. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission requires screening for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant women to identify which newborns that must be immunized. Aim:- This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant mothers who were attending outpatient clinic of the Obstetric Department, at Benha University Hospital , for routine antenatal care. Methods:- A cross sectional study included 942 pregnant women. enzyme linked immusorbent assay technique ( ELISA ) screening test for HBV was done for all women and all Patients with hepatitis B surface antigen positive were subjected to: ALT, AST, Bilirubin (total and direct), HBeAg test and abdominal ultrasound. Results:- out of 942 pregnant women, 15 were positive for HBsAg (1. 6%) by ELISA test, where ALT, AST and Bilirubin were normal in14 positive cases but high in the 15th positive case, HBeAg was negative in the all 15 positive cases and abdominal ultrasound was normal in 14 positive cases and showed hepatosplenomegally in the 15th positive case. There was no significant association between the seroprevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg) in studied females and their sociodemographic data. There was no statically significance reached by comparing patients with HBsAg +ve and HBsAg ?ve regarding Age and Durations of marriage, Blood transfusion, Hospitalization, Major operations, Diabetes Mellitus, Husband with HBsAg +ve and Addiction. Conclusion:- HBV infection is present among pregnant mothers attending our outpatient services. Therefore we recommend screening for HBV in all Egyptian pregnant mothers to prevent neonatal infection by immunoprophylaxis.