Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B in Pregnant Women in Sari, Iran 2018- 2020

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended in HBsAg-positive mothers to prevent hepatitis B in infants. Mother-to-infant transmission of HBV causes many health problems and it is important to identify HBV positive mothers. This investigation aimed at studying the prevalence of HBV and the immunogenicity of HBV vaccination in pregnant women to prevent HBV at birth in Sari, Iran.

This descriptive observational study was conducted in pregnant women attending Sari Birth Cohort (SBC) Center, 2018-2020. A total of 1018 samples were investigated for HBV serological markers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The prevalence of HBV was 1.57% and 46.6% (n=474) of expectant mothers had received HBV vaccine. Immunogenicity of HBV vaccination was 51.9%. HBV prevalence was found to be significantly associated with increase in age and gestational age (P= 0.009 and P= 0.005, respectively). HBV infection in women who were not immunized was significantly associated with family history of HBV and unprotected sex (P= 0.000 and P= 0.008, respectively).

Family history of HBV, maternal age, gestational age, and unprotected intercourse were the risk factors for HBV infection in pregnant women in Sari.