Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Vientiane, Laos, 2008–2014

Abstract

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) is still considered a highly endemic country for hepatitis B, mainly due to perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), despite efforts made since 2004 for universal immunization of newborns. The prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage in pregnant women is a relevant marker for the risk of mother-to-child HBV transmission. This study aimed to assess the changes in prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women attending the Mahosot Prenatal Clinic (Vientiane Capital). Methods. A retrospective study was performed in the Mahosot Hospital Laboratory to collect and analyze all the results of HBsAg testing in pregnant women from 2008 to 2014. Results. Of a total of 13,238 tested women of mean age of 26 years, 720 women (5,44% [95 CI: 5.1–5.8%]) were found HBsAg positive, the annual prevalence ranging from 4.6% to 6.2%. A slight but steady and significant decrease in prevalence over the 7 years of the study could be documented. Conclusion. Although below the 8% hyperendemic threshold, the HBsAg prevalence observed in pregnant women in Vientiane reflects a high risk of HBV perinatal transmission and call for a widespread infant immunization with an HBV vaccine birth dose.

Hepatitis B Infection and Mother-to-Child Transmission in Haiphong, Vietnam: A Cohort Study with Implications for Interventions

“…Although our results are similar to recent estimates of HBV prevalence that suggest that about 10.8% of the population is HBsAg positive [ 2 ], these rates are much higher than the 8% threshold that defines a high endemicity level [ 22 ]. Interestingly, large differences are observed when comparing our results with those of recent surveys conducted among pregnant women in neighboring countries to Vietnam including China (5-6%) [ 23 , 24 ], Cambodia (3-5%) [ 2 , 25 ], and Laos (2.9%) [ 11 ], a country whose capital showed a significant decrease from 2008 to 2014 [ 26 ]. Our study results confirm that the current prevalence of HBV infection in Vietnam is still very high.…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women Presented to Antenatal Care Clinics at Adigrat General Hospital in Northern Ethiopia

“… 12 , 22–24 Similarly, it is higher than study findings from developing countries such as India and Vietnam. 33 , 34 However, it is lower than study findings from Nigeria. 35 This difference may be due to difference in awareness level of the study participants towards the infection, difference in socioeconomic level, sample size and/or study season, study design, methods used for investigation of the virus or government attention level for the infection.…”

Perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission in Lao PDR: A prospective cohort study

“…Liver cancer incidence in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is one of the highest in the world in relation with a high incidence of cholangiocarcinoma and a high prevalence of HCC linked to chronic HBV infection [13]. In pregnant women presenting for antenatal care, HBV prevalence estimates have ranged between 2.9% and 8.2% [14–16], depending on settings. For hepatitis B (HB) immunization, the national recommendation is to administer a birth dose, ie a monovalent HB vaccine dose within 24 hours of birth (-HepB-BD), followed by a dose of pentavalent vaccine at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age, regardless of maternal HBV status.…”