Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in pregnant ladies and their neonates in minia governorate

Abstract

Objective: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C (HVC) in pregnant women is not uncommon and have a threat for both mothers and fetuses. This study was performed to explore the true prevalence of HBV and HCV and incidence of neonatal transmission in Minia locality. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study was conducted at the maternity and pediatric Hospital Minia University in the period between January 2015 till December 2016 all women coming in labour was included in this study. The main outcomes were the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in women and incidence of neonatal transmission. Results: Total number of women accepted sharing in our study was 11250 ladies. Total number of infected cases was 135 patients (1.2%), 84 of them were HCV +ve (0.75%) and 41 cases HBV+VE ( 0.364%) while 10 cases were mixed infection(0.089%), 102 patient (75.5%) of infected cases from rural areas while 33 patient (24.5%) from the urban areas. Total number of acquired neonatal hepatitis at delivery was 7 cases only, then after 3 months reassessment shows another 3 cases, So total number of infected babies after three months follow up was 10 cases out of 135 maternal cases in a percentage of 7.4%. Conclusion: Hepatitis infection is a public and social problem affecting some pregnant women in Egypt and need to be fully discovered and to be well investigated to reduce the incidence of new cases and to counteract against flare up of new infection with consequences for both mothers and newborns, and the relative lack of data, make this a critical medical challenge