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Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare Zimbabwe, 1996 to 1997. 1999

S Madzime, and M Adem, and K Mahomed, and G B Woelk, and S Mudzamiri, and M A Williams
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier and infectivity status among pregnant women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital. METHODS A serological survey study of pregnant women admitted for labour and delivery. METHODS Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe between June 1996 and June 1997. METHODS A random sample of 1,000 women, delivering at the hospital during the study period agreed to participate in the study. Serum samples were available for 984 women. METHODS HBV carriage status was determined by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Maternal HBV infectivity status was determined by testing all HBsAg positive women for the presence of hepatitis e surface antigen (HBeAg) using EIA. RESULTS Overall 246 (25%) women were identified as carriers of HBV (95% confidence interval 22 to 28%). The frequency of HBV carriers did not vary with maternal age, parity or marital status. Only a positive prior history of spontaneous abortion was associated with an increased prevalence of HBV carriage status. Eight of the 246 (3.3%) women identified as HBV carriers tested positive for HBeAg. Hence, 0.8% of the entire study population was found to be at high risk of transmitting HBV to their newborns. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate a high prevalence of HBV carriage among women giving birth at Harare Maternity Hospital. None of the demographic variables studied were important predictors of HBV carriage status. The high carriage rate and low infectivity rates suggest that HBV infection is likely to be acquired by horizontal, rather than by vertical means of transmission. Given the scarcity of financial resources, routine testing of mothers for HBsAg may not be feasible. Our results suggest, however, that mass vaccination of all infants, irrespective of maternal HBV carriage status, may be the most effective approach to HBV prevention and control in Zimbabwe.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008403 Mass Screening Organized periodic procedures performed on large groups of people for the purpose of detecting disease. Screening,Mass Screenings,Screening, Mass,Screenings,Screenings, Mass
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011251 Pregnancy Complications, Infectious The co-occurrence of pregnancy and an INFECTION. The infection may precede or follow FERTILIZATION. Complications, Infectious Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complications,Maternal Sepsis,Pregnancy, Infectious Complications,Sepsis during Pregnancy,Sepsis in Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancy Complication, Infectious,Sepsis in Pregnancies,Sepsis, Maternal
D002353 Carrier State The condition of harboring an infective organism without manifesting symptoms of infection. The organism must be readily transmissible to another susceptible host. Asymptomatic Carrier State,Asymptomatic Infection Carrier,Inapparent Infection Carrier,Presymptomatic Carrier State,Presymptomatic Infection Carrier,Super-spreader Carrier,Superspreader Carrier,Asymptomatic Carrier States,Asymptomatic Infection Carriers,Carrier State, Asymptomatic,Carrier State, Presymptomatic,Carrier States,Carrier, Super-spreader,Carrier, Superspreader,Carriers, Super-spreader,Carriers, Superspreader,Inapparent Infection Carriers,Infection Carrier, Asymptomatic,Infection Carrier, Inapparent,Infection Carrier, Presymptomatic,Presymptomatic Carrier States,Presymptomatic Infection Carriers,Super spreader Carrier,Super-spreader Carriers,Superspreader Carriers
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D005260 Female Females
D006509 Hepatitis B INFLAMMATION of the LIVER in humans caused by a member of the ORTHOHEPADNAVIRUS genus, HEPATITIS B VIRUS. It is primarily transmitted by parenteral exposure, such as transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, but can also be transmitted via sexual or intimate personal contact. Hepatitis B Virus Infection
D006514 Hepatitis B Surface Antigens Those hepatitis B antigens found on the surface of the Dane particle and on the 20 nm spherical and tubular particles. Several subspecificities of the surface antigen are known. These were formerly called the Australia antigen. Australia Antigen,HBsAg,Hepatitis B Surface Antigen,Antigen, Australia
D006771 Hospitals, Maternity Special hospitals which provide care to women during pregnancy and parturition. Maternity Hospitals,Hospital, Maternity,Maternity Hospital
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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