[Prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers in a population of pregnant women in Brazzaville (Congo)]

Abstract

The risk of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus is well-known; but, in Congo, where hepatitis B virus is endemic and the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma is high, there is no study on this mode of transmission. For three months, we screened systematically for HBsAg in 292 pregnant women who came as outpatients or to deliver in 3 health centres in Brazzaville. Positive sera for HBsAg were also tested for the other markers of HBV, except for specific DNA. The seroprevalence of HBV among these women was 6.5%. It was significantly higher among inpatients than among outpatients. The overall prevalence of HBs was 57.8%; the prevalence of the profile HBsAg + HBeAg was 2.05%. The risk of maternofoetal transmission of HBV was 2.7%. This study shows that the antenatal screening for HBV and the integration of the immunization against HBV in the expanded programme of immunization against HBV are good means to prevent the infection.