Hepatitis B, HIV, and Syphilis Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women and Blood Donors in Cameroon

Abstract

Objectives. We estimated seroprevalence and correlates of selected infections in pregnant women and blood donors in a resource-limited setting. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of laboratory seroprevalence data from pregnant women and voluntary blood donors from facilities in Cameroon in 2014. Rapid tests were performed to detect hepatitis B surface antigen, syphilis treponemal antibodies, and HIV-1/2 antibodies. Blood donations were also tested for hepatitis C and malaria. Results. The seroprevalence rates and ranges among 7069 pregnant women were hepatitis B 4.4% (1.1–9.6%), HIV 6% (3.0–10.2%), and syphilis 1.7% (1.3–3.8%) with significant variability among the sites. Correlates of infection in pregnancy in adjusted regression models included urban residence for hepatitis B (aOR 2.9, CI 1.6–5.4) and HIV (aOR 3.5, CI 1.9–6.7). Blood donor seroprevalence rates and ranges were hepatitis B 6.8% (5.0–8.8%), HIV 2.2% (1.4–2.8%), syphilis 4% (3.3–4.5%), malaria 1.9%, and hepatitis C 1.7% (0.5–2.5%). Conclusions. Hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis infections are common among pregnant women and blood donors in Cameroon with higher rates in urban areas. Future interventions to reduce vertical transmission should include universal screening for these infections early in pregnancy and provision of effective prevention tools including the birth dose of univalent hepatitis B vaccine.

A decision analytic model for prevention of hepatitis B virus infection in Sub‐Saharan Africa using birth‐dose vaccination

“…The prevalence of HBV infection during pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa is 5%–13% [6, 22] and so is often higher than the 6% cutoff value identified in the present study. Targeted birth-dose HBV vaccination (strategy 3) prevented more HBV infections before age 10 years than did strategy 1 (pentavalent vaccine only).…”

Prevalence and burden of HBV co‐infection among people living with HIV: A global systematic review and meta‐analysis

“… c Denotes prevalence (total) derived from samples of PLHIV pregnant women among the population group PLHIV (heterosexual and pregnant women) including: Cameroon (2) 9.3%, 14.6%; Cote D’Ivoire (1) 9.0%; Nigeria (1) 4.2%; South Africa (3) 6.2%, 3.4%, 2.1%; Malawi (1) 8.7%; Rwanda (1) 2.4%; Tanzania (1) 6.2%; Uganda (1) 4.9%; Brazil (5) 1.9%, 0.5%, 2.3%, 0.9%, 1.2%; USA (1) 2.9%; Canada (1) 5.6%; Haiti (1) 2.4%; France (2) 6.0%, 6.9%; the Netherlands (1) 4.9%, and Morocco (1). …”

Socio-demographic and Obstetric Variations of T. gondii and HIV-1 Co-infection among Pregnant Women in Cameroon

“…This study is one of the few studies carried out in Cameroon to explore the seroprevalence of T. gondii and HIV co-infection among pregnant women in Bamenda Health District. Despite the low HIV prevalence (4.3%) in Cameroon in 2016 [22], the prevalence of HIV (11.6%) among pregnant women was high compared to the 0.5-10.3% range reported in other countries of the world [14,17,23] and from other towns in Cameroon [20,21]. However, it was quite low compared to the 61.6% reported by Simpore et al [11] in a study carried out in Burkina Faso.…”

“…HIV prevalence is shown to increase among pregnant women as such screening of all women during antenatal care is important [17,18]. The prevalence of HIV among pregnant women ranges from 0.5-61.6% in other countries [11,17,19] and between 2.6 -22.1% within other towns in Cameroon [16,20,21]. With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the rate of mother to child transmission has greatly reduced to a range of 1.4-2.5% [18].…”

“…gondii and HIV co-infections cause serious complications in pregnant women and pose a serious health threat [11]. Although screening practices of T. gondii and HIV during antenatal care are standardized in developed countries, it is somehow limited in developing countries where the burden of T. gondii infection among HIV infected pregnant women is greatly felt [20]. As such screening for T. gondii and HIV infections among pregnant women may be an important primary prevention strategy.…”