ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Action Plan for viral hepatites in the WHO European Region aims to eliminate them as a public health threat by the end of 2030. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) perinatal transmission is a problem of major concern. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of HBV markers in pregnant women in Romania, as scientific evidence for recommending public health interventions. METHODS: The serum samples were prospectively collected in randomly selected maternities, from pregnant women admitted for birth beginning with July 1st, 2016. Signed informed consent was requested and the confidentiality of personal data was assured. The laboratory investigations were performed in two regional public health laboratories. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg was 5.1%. Among HBsAg positives, the HBeAg was present in 7.4% and the anti-HBeAb were detected in 55.6% of the pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The results of the study were comparable to those in 2013 for the women of the same age group, which proves the need for established public health interventions leading to reducing, and halting HBV transmission in the population. .
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Biomarkers/blood , Child , Female , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood , Humans , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/prevention & control , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Random Allocation , Romania/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
MATERIAL AND METHOD: The studies have been carried out in 855 males and females aged over 20 years belonging to the general population and health care profession included in the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN) Programme aimed at assessing the population immune background against hepatitis B virus. The serological markers, represented by HBsAg, antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBsAg) and HBcAg (anti-HBcAg) were investigated by the methods widely used in seroepidemiology studies. The patients were divided into 4 subgroups. RESULTS: In the blood serum of a subgroup of 220 individuals, HBsAg was found in 33.2%, anti-HBs in 41.3%, and anti-HBc in 25.4%. In another subgroup of 219 individuals, significantly increased levels of the anti-HBs were recorded in 50.2%. In the subgroup of 168 individuals, IgG anti-HBc were present in 84.6% of those aged over 40 years who had acute HBV infection. In the subgroup of 248 healthcare professionals the prevalence of anti-HBs carriers was 50-80%, result of vaccine-prevention.
