scholarly journals A study evaluating knowledge of and attitude towards hepatitis B among pregnant women at a teaching hospital in Nellore, India.

Author(s):  
Swetha Munivenkatappa ◽  
Srinivas M. Govindaraj

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a common and preventable infection in India. Mother to child transmission is the most common method of infection in our country. Awareness regarding hepatitis B among pregnant women is important to take preventive measures like screening during pregnancy, vaccination of child. Studies evaluating knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards hepatitis B among the pregnant women in our country are sparse.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted to evaluate KAP towards hepatitis B among pregnant women was conducted after handing over an information hand-out. Data was collected using a standard questionnaire with three sections: i) Demographic data ii) Knowledge questions iii) Attitude and Practice questions.   Results: 42% of the 350 participants were aware about hepatitis B infection. The mean knowledge score was 6.33 (±2.86). Only 33.3% were aware that hepatitis B is transmitted by unprotected sex and 8.2% were knowledgeable of mother to child transmission. The mean attitude/practice score was 2.97 (±1.69). Only 30% would insist on safe equipment and blood/blood products. 84% would hesitate to have casual contact with hepatitis B infected persons. Most feared the stigma associated with hepatitis b infection than its health consequences. 70% would vaccinate their child to prevent hepatitis B infection. Women with greater knowledge about hepatitis B had better attitude/practice towards its prevention.Conclusions: Knowledge about HBV among pregnant women was poor and needs to be improved to prevent mother to child transmission. Educational programs need to be tailored for the target population for better uptake.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Naichaya Chamroonkul

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.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Uchenna Eleje ◽  
Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu ◽  
Uchenna Chukwunonso OGWALUONYE ◽  
Stephen Okoroafor KALU ◽  
Chinyere Ukamaka ONUBOGU ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Nigeria contributes significantly to the global burden of HIV, Hepatitis B and C infections, either singly or in combinations, despite progress in HIV care regionally and globally. Although some limited data on mono infection of HIV, Hepatitis B and C virus infections do exists, that of dual and triplex infections, including seroconversion and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rates necessary for planning to address the scourge of infections in pregnancy are not available.Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence, rate of new infections, MTCT of dual and triple infections of HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses and associated factors, among pregnant women in Nigeria. Method: A multicenter prospective cohort study will be conducted in six tertiary health facilities randomly selected from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. All eligible pregnant women are to be tested at enrollment after informed consent for HIV, Hepatitis B and C infections. While those positive for at least two of the infections in any combination will be enrolled into the study and followed up to 6 weeks post-delivery, those negative for the three infections or positive for only one of the infections at enrolment will be retested at delivery using a rapid diagnostic test. On enrolment into the study relevant information, will be obtained, and laboratory test of CD4 count, liver function test and full blood counts, and prenatal ultrasonography will also be obtained/performed. Management of mother-newborns pairs will be according to appropriate national guidelines. All exposed newborns will be tested for HIV, HBV or HCV infection at birth and 6 weeks using PCR technique. The study data will be documented on the study case record forms. Data will be managed with SPSS for windows version 23. Ethical approval was obtained from National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) (NHREC/01/01/2007-23/01/2020).Conclusion: Pregnant women with multiple of HIV, HBV and C infections are at increased risk of hepatotoxicity, maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Additionally, infected pregnant women transmit the virus to their unborn baby even when asymptomatic. Children born with any of the infection have significantly poorer quality of life and lower five-year survival rate. Unfortunately, the seroconversion and MTCT rates of dual or triplex infections among pregnant women in Nigeria have not been studied making planning for prevention and subsequent elimination of the viruses difficult. The study is expected to fill this knowledge gaps. Nigeria joining the rest of the world to eliminate the triple infection among children rest on the availability of adequate and reliable data generated from appropriately designed, powered study using representative population sample. The establishment of the three-in-one study of prevalence, rate of new infection, rate and risk factor for MTCT of dual and triple infection of HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses among pregnant women in Nigeria is urgently needed for policy development and planning for the improvement of the quality of life of mothers and the elimination of childhood triplex infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Sun ◽  
Chengwei Wang ◽  
Bian Wang ◽  
Xiuzhen Yang ◽  
Hongtao Xu ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and potential side-effects of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues and hepatitis B immunoglobulin injection of newborns in blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in the middle and late pregnancy period. 238 cases of enrolled pregnant women were divided into the Telbivudine group, the Tenofovir group, the Lamivudine group, and the hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) group. Enrolled patients received corresponding therapies. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Results showed that the levels of HBV DNA of the enrolled pregnant women in the Telbivudine, Tenofovir, and Lamivudine groups decreased rapidly after 12 weeks of drug intervention compared with those in the control. HBsAg positive rate in newborns and in children 24 weeks after birth was 0/60, 0/60, 0/60, 3/30, and 11/28 in the Telbivudine, Tenofovir, Lamivudine, HBIG, and control groups, respectively. No significant side-effects were identified after following up to 12 months after birth. Our results show that routine HBV vaccine plus HBIG injections is insufficient in blocking mother-to-child HBV transmission. Administration of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues or HBIG at pregnancy is suggested to maximize the blocking of vertical HBV transmission.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Eleje ◽  
Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu ◽  
Uchenna C. Ogwaluonye ◽  
Stephen Okoroafor Kalu ◽  
Chinyere Ukamaka Onubogu ◽  
...  

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