Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Epidemiology and Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of Pregnant Women in Lorestan, West of Iran

Abstract

: Background: There are little data on the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in pregnant women in Iran.Objectives: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women in Lorestan, west of Iran.Patients and Methods: Serum samples of 827 pregnant women who lived in rural (36.8%) and urban areas (63.2%) of Lorestan were collected during 2007-2008. Data were obtained through questionnaires. Samples were first screened for anti-HCV and anti-HBc by ELISA. Those who were positive for anti-HBc were tested for HBsAg.Results: Anti-HBc was found in 28 of 827 pregnant women (overall prevalence, 3.4%; 14 of 523 in urban areas, 2.7%; 14 of 304 in rural areas, 4.6%). Of the 28 positive samples, 6 (0.7%) were positive for HBs-Ag. Only 2 samples (0.2%) were anti-HCV-positive.Conclusions: These results underscore the need for prenatal screening for HBV infection in pregnant women and treatment of newborns from HBsAg-positive mothers. More studies are needed to identify risk factors of HCV infection and highlight the importance of HCV screening and treatment programs. Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:The authors mentioned that low prevalence of HBV and HCV in this region establish a national program for regular screening of all pregnant women. Most pregnant women are asymptomatic and clinically disease free and they might not be aware that they are infected and can transmit their infection to newborns. Therefore, prenatal screening for HBV infection in pregnant women and treatment of newborns from HBsAg-positive mothers and also identify risk factors of HCV infection is nessecerry. Please cite this paper as:Mohebbi SR, Sanati A, Cheraghipour K, Rostami Nejad M, Mohaghegh Shalmani H, Zali MR. Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Epidemiology and Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of Pregnant Women in Lorestan, West of Iran. Hepat Mon. 2011; 11(9):736-9. DOI: 10.5812/kowsar. 1735143X.749 ©2011 Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved.