Hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission in the Eastern Region of Ghana: a cross-sectional pilot study

AbstractBackgroundHepatitis B is a major health concern in Ghana, where prevalence of the virus remains high and most chronic patients are infected during childhood or at birth. There are several factors which can influence transmission risk from an infected mother to her infant, such as the presence of viral markers, the viral load and the use of prophylactic interventions. It is therefore important to determine the prevalence and main factors associated with mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B in the context of Ghana.Materials and methodsIn this cross-sectional pilot study, hepatitis B testing was performed on infants born to infected mothers at a single site in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Test results were matched to a questionnaire which consisted of variables related to pregnancy and birth conditions. This was primarily a descriptive study to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission as well as the preventive interventions and diagnostic methods used. The study variables were also analysed independently using Fisher’s exact test, while mother’s age at the time of delivery was assessed using univariate logistic regression.ResultsA total of 51 cases were included in the study and three (5.9%) of the infants tested positive. No significant association was observed between mother’s age and mother-to-child transmission (OR: 1.077, 95% CI: 0.828 – 1.403, p=0.58). A majority of infants received the standard hepatitis B vaccination schedule (96.1%) while two-thirds received the birth dose. There was no significant association observed between the clinical interventions reported in the study and mother-to-child transmission. Testing for viral markers and the use of antiviral therapy during pregnancy were absent in the population and could not be reliably assessed.ConclusionThere was a low prevalence of HBV mother-to-child transmission observed despite a clear absence of viral marker and viral load testing. It is recommended that viral profile analysis is performed for hepatitis B positive pregnancies to identify high risk cases.

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Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B: extent of knowledge of physicians and midwives in Eastern region of Ghana

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-016-3215-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Charles Ampong Adjei ◽

Richard Asamoah ◽

Fidelis Atibila ◽

Gilbert Nachinab Ti-enkawol ◽

Michael Ansah-Nyarko

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Eastern Region ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Mother To Child

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Challenges of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in China: a cross-sectional survey

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32684-9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 392 ◽

pp. S55 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ailing Wang ◽

Yaping Qiao ◽

Lixia Dou ◽

Qian Wang ◽

Xiaoyan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mother To Child

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Update in management of hepatitis B in pregnancy and prevention of mother to child hepatitis B transmission

Thai Journal of Hepatology ◽

10.30856/th.jhep2018vol1iss3_01 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Naichaya Chamroonkul

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Viral Load ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

High Viral Load ◽

World Population ◽

Hepatitis B Infection ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Mother To Child

Even with two decades of widespread using hepatitis B vaccination, chronic hepatitis B remains a major global health problem. In Thailand, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection was down from 8 - 10% in last decade to 5% recently. Failure to control mother to child transmission is one of the important barriers to the total elimination of hepatitis B infection from world population. In the majority, vertical transmission can be prevented with a universal screening program, immunoprophylaxis by administration of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) for babies born to mothers with HBV. However, in mothers with a high viral load, the chance of immunoprophylaxis failure remains high. To date, there are standard recommendations by all international liver societies including AASLD, EASL and APASL suggest introducing an antiviral agent during the third trimester to CHB pregnant women with a high viral load. Previous US FDA pregnancy category B agents such as Tenofovir and Telbivudine are allowed through all trimesters of pregnancy and are effective for prevention of mother to child transmission. Breastfeeding for patients who receive antiviral agents can be allowed after a risk-benefit discussion with the patient and family.

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