Portage and screening for viral hepatitis B in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan
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Mohammad Reza Mohammadi,1,* Mahram Ali Mehran,2
1. Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran-Iran
2. Department Of Clinical Research, Yakawlang DH, Bamyan Hospital, Afghanistan
- Introduction: Background: Viral Hepatitis B remains a major public health problem because of its frequency and the costs involved.
Objective: To determine the carriage and compare the different screening methods for hepatitis B infection in our environment
- Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in collaboration with Wazir Akbar Khan, Afghan Japan, Blossem Hospitals in Kabul: Kabul Maternity Hospital, Wazir Akbar Khan General Hospital, Afghan Japan General Hospital and Blossem General Hospital. The centers were selected randomly based on the presence of women in Prenatal Counseling (PNC) and access to the centers. All women who referred to PNC in the centers from June 1 to August 29, 2018, were included in the group after signing an informed consent. Blood samples were collected by the technical team of the centers and transferred to the laboratory for analysis according to the cold chain at 4 ° C. Each sample was tested for serological research for HBsAg antigen and ELISA sandwich in the medical diagnostic laboratory of Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital.
- Results: 212 women agreed with this study. The highest representative age is 30 to 55 years with 75 women (48.6%). 65 women (31.9%) were housewives. 79 women (41.3%) had primary education. 89 women (38.8%) with HBsAg serology were positive for HBV and 106 (50%) were positive for ELISA. The most infected age group was 33 to 55 years (42.1% by RDT and 52.6% by ELISA). More cases of infection were observed among housewives (49.2% by RDT and 63% by ELISA) compared to other occupations. 186 women had not received the hepatitis vaccine (91.2%), of which 38.7% were positive for HBsAg and 51% were positive for ELISA. On the other hand, 26 women (8.8%) received hepatitis vaccine, of which 38.9% were positive for HBsAg and ELISA. 134 women had a history of blood transfusion (65.7%), of which 41% were positive for HBsAg and 56% were positive for ELISA. On the other hand, 70 women (34.3%) had no history of blood transfusion, of which 34.2% were positive for HBsAg and 38.6% were positive for ELISA.
- Conclusion: The study shows that hepatitis B does represent a public health problem among pregnant women in the city of Kabul. The seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B in pregnant women remains very high. ELISA appears to be a better technic for the diagnosis of HBV.
- Keywords: Viral Hepatitis B, Pregnant women, kabul
