Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus in pregnancy women at the time of delivery

Abstract

Worldwide, there is an alert due to the increase in the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV). This can cause up to 3.5% of chronic diseases, of which 40% present secondary complications and/ or early death.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of HBV in pregnant women at the time of delivery.

Patients and Method: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with cross-association between 2018 and 2019 at the Hospital Carlos Van Buren (HCVB), in Valparaiso, Chile. All pregnant women admitted for delivery care or with an immediate newborn who had HBV surface antigen study were included. Data were collected from the pregnant woman (age, nationality, education level, parity, type of delivery, and peripartum HIV-syphilis serology) and the newborn (gestational age, weight, and APGAR score). Inferential and multivariate analysis was performed using the Stata software.

Results: 1,355 pregnant women were analyzed. 87.7% were Chilean, 5.5% Haitian, 4.2% Venezuelan, and 2.6% were of other nationalities. 0.3% were positive for HBV. The prevalence of HBV in Chileans was 0.08% and in Haitians 4%. Haitian nationality was at higher risk of HBV (OR = 83) vs. Chilean nationality (p = 0.0001). None presented coinfection with HIV and/or syphilis.

Conclusions: HBV seroprevalence in HCVB pregnant women was 0.3%, similar to that described in the general population in Chile. There was no coinfection with other sexually transmitted diseases. The only predictor of HBV infection was Haitian nationality.