The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in women of reproductive age in highly endemic areas in China

摘要

Summary We describe the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) infection among women of reproductive age residing in areas of China that are highly endemic for chronic HBV , and provide evidence useful for decision‐makers to guide strategies for preventing mother‐to‐child transmission of HBV , and assess the impact of perinatal transmission PMTCT by projecting HB sAg prevalence trends without interventions. We conducted a cross‐sectional HBV serological survey of women, 15‐49?years of age, residing in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces. Demographic and other subject‐level data were collected in face‐to‐face interviews, after which we obtain blood specimens. Specimens were tested for HBV sero‐markers by ELISA (Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy), and HBV DNA was tested with PCR (Hunan Sansure Biotech). Weighted HB sAg and HBV (either HB sAg+ or anti‐ HB c+ indicating either present or past infection) prevalences were 11.82% and 57.16%, respectively. Among the HB sAg‐positive women, 27% were also HB eAg positive. The proportion of individuals with HBV DNA loads 10 5 IU/mL declined with increasing age. Among HB sAg‐negative women, 0.9% had occult HBV infection. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection among reproductive women in these highly endemic provinces is high, posing a threat to maternal health and risk of mother‐to‐child transmission. Prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission remains critically important.