Correlation between maternal hepatitis B surface antigen carrier status with social, medical and family factors in an endemic area: have we overlooked something?

July 6, 2011

Infection

DOI: 10.1007/s15010-011-0151-3Online First™

Clinical and Epidemiological Study

Correlation between maternal hepatitis B surface antigen carrier status with

social, medical and family factors in an endemic area: have we overlooked

something?

O. K. Chan, T. T. Lao, S. S. H. Suen, T. K. Lau and T. Y. Leung

Abstract

Purpose

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in many countries, but the risk

factors for HBV carriage in the obstetric population are unclear.

Methods

A survey on 1,580 women attending the antenatal clinic in an endemic region was

conducted in order to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with

maternal HBV carriage, including socio-demographic, medical, and previous

obstetrical and family history, by means of a questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of maternal HBV carriage was 9.1%, and 4.8% of women with a

history of hepatitis B vaccination were found to be HBV carriers. Factors

associated with maternal HBV carriage were residency status (adjusted odds ratio

[aOR] 3.65 for immigrants; aOR 7.62 for non-residents), positive family history

(aOR 3.72 for infected mother; aOR 5.36 for other family members), no previous

vaccination (aOR 4.39) and having previous HBsAg testing (aOR 2.26).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that there was probably an overlooked role of horizontal

transmission within the family setting in addition to perinatal transmission in

determining the likelihood of HBV infection in our obstetric population.

Reconfirmation of hepatitis B status might be necessary among individuals with a

history of vaccination to ensure the effectiveness of their immunoprotection.

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